Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says net giants have did not maintain children protected on-line.
Canada has unveiled draft laws that will pressure tech platforms to rapidly take away on-line content material deemed dangerous, together with materials that sexualises youngsters and foments hate.
The On-line Harms Act, launched by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal authorities on Monday, would make tech corporations accountable for tackling seven classes of dangerous content material and improve prison penalties for spreading hate on-line.
Underneath the laws, Canadians would have the ability to request the elimination of content material inside 24 hours, topic to a evaluation course of, and file complaints in opposition to individuals spreading hateful speech at a human rights tribunal.
The seven classes of hurt outlined within the invoice are intimate content material communicated with out consent; content material that foments hatred; content material that incites violent extremism or terrorism; content material that incites violence; content material used to bully a toddler; and content material that induces a toddler to hurt themselves.
The laws would set up a brand new digital security fee to implement the requirements, which additionally embrace requiring platforms to introduce options to guard youngsters equivalent to parental controls and protected search settings.
Trudeau stated the laws would maintain tech corporations accountable for dangerous content material they host and make on-line areas safer.
“For too lengthy, net giants have did not maintain children protected on-line,” he stated. “Far too typically, this has had devastating penalties.”
In a press release, the federal government stated it revered Canadians’ freedom of expression however everybody ought to have the ability to entry a web based atmosphere “the place they will specific themselves freely, with out fearing for his or her security or their life”.
There was additionally an “pressing want for higher safeguards for social media customers, significantly youngsters”, it stated.
The invoice will probably be examined by a parliamentary committee after which go to the Senate for potential revisions earlier than it may grow to be legislation.
The federal government’s proposals have generated fierce opposition from conservatives.
Conservative Social gathering chief Pierre Poilievre, who has accused Trudeau of being “woke” and “authoritarian”, stated final week that the federal government’s plans would infringe on Canadians’ freedom of expression.
“What does Justin Trudeau imply when he says… the phrase hate speech?” Poilievre stated in remarks aired by the Canadian Broadcasting Company. “He means speech he hates.”
Canada’s proposals comply with related laws in different Western international locations, together with the UK’s On-line Security Regulation, the European Union’s Digital Providers Act and content material moderation legal guidelines in the US states of Florida and Texas.
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