Justine Trudeau Introduces 'Online Harms Act' To Regulate Content On Facebook, YouTube and Other Platforms

By Thea Felicity

Feb 27, 2024 01:00 PM EST

(Photo : Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 20: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks at a U.N. Security Council meeting during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on September 20, 2023 in New York City. During the meeting, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky called on the UNGA to broaden its membership and remove Russia’s veto power on the Security Council.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government has revealed the Online Harms Act, an online safety law in Canada aimed at compelling internet companies to actively regulate and remove harmful content, aligning with efforts in European countries.

According to Bloomberg, the legislation introduced in parliament holds platforms accountable for reducing exposure to damaging content.

It covers material that bullies sexually victimize children or incites extremism, violence, or hatred, with major platforms like TikTok Inc., Meta Platforms Inc., and Alphabet Inc.'s YouTube expected to be affected.

Creating the Digital Safety Commission to enforce rules and an independent digital safety ombudsperson, the law aims to address harmful online content, filling a gap compared to other jurisdictions like the UK, EU, and Australia.

The bill introduces a standalone hate crime offense. It establishes a process for filing complaints about online speech to the Canadian Human Rights Commission, with penalties of up to life in prison and compensations up to C$20,000 ($14,809) for victims.

Criticism of the Online Harms Act

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre criticized the legislation as an "attack on freedom of expression" before its details were known, reflecting broader concerns about the balance between protecting internet users and preserving rights and freedoms.

This legislation adds to the Canadian government's recent internet regulations, including the Online Streaming Act targeting platforms like Netflix Inc., and the Online News Act requiring Alphabet to pay for news content, which prompted Meta's suspension of news links on Facebook and Instagram in Canada to avoid payments, impacting local news outlets.

"The bill would also create a new standalone hate crime offense that would apply to every other offense in the Criminal Code, allowing the conduct to be treated as a crime in itself rather than an aggravating factor in sentencing."

Industry