Canada unveils law to force tech firms to remove ‘harmful’ content online
Al Jazeera
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says web giants have failed to keep kids safe online.
Canada has unveiled draft legislation that would force tech platforms to quickly remove online content deemed harmful, including material that sexualises children and foments hate.
The Online Harms Act, introduced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government on Monday, would make tech companies responsible for tackling seven categories of harmful content and increase criminal penalties for spreading hate online.
Under the legislation, Canadians would be able to request the removal of content within 24 hours, subject to a review process, and file complaints against people spreading hateful speech at a human rights tribunal.
The seven categories of harm defined in the bill are intimate content communicated without consent; content that foments hatred; content that incites violent extremism or terrorism; content that incites violence; content used to bully a child; and content that induces a child to harm themselves.
The legislation would establish a new digital safety commission to enforce the standards, which also include requiring platforms to introduce features to protect children such as parental controls and safe search settings.
