Ottawa launches consultation
to regulate social media
(Ottawa) Ottawa on Thursday launched a public consultation to assess the rules Canada intends to impose this fall on social media to eradicate hate speech and sexual exploitation.
It is platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok and Pornhub that will be targeted, specify the departments of Canadian Heritage, Public Safety and Justice. The new rules will force these social media outlets to remove any content that is violent, hateful, terrorist or related to sexual exploitation. It is also about the sharing of intimate images without the consent of the person.
The platforms will have to act within 24 hours of the report. If they refuse to cooperate, an appointed digital security commissioner can then recommend sanctions. "We are talking about very steep fines, among the highest in the world," said Minister of Canadian Heritage Steven Guilbeault, in an interview with La Presse . As a last resort, the law provides for asking internet providers to prevent these platforms from accessing Canada.
“We need uniform and transparent rules on how online platforms deal with hatred, incitement to violence and harmful content online,” said Minister Guilbeault. According to him, holding a public consultation on this subject is a crucial step towards a “safer digital environment”.
The consultation will be an opportunity for the population to express themselves about the entire approach proposed by the government. Among other things, it will be a question of the type of content, the rules, the platforms covered by the regulation, as well as the new bodies responsible for enforcing this law. Comments to this effect should be sent online, before September 25, 2021.
However, private communications platforms, such as Messenger and WhatsApp, will be excluded from the bill. “There are privacy issues,” explains Minister Guilbeault. The bill could be brought to change, according to the evolution of technologies.
Promote freedom of expression
Does this regulation present a risk for freedom of expression? On the contrary, replies Minister Guilbeault. The bill seeks to increase this type of freedom. “The fact that people cannot express themselves on social media platforms without being victims of hatred or racism, it limits freedom of expression,” he argues.
With the regulations, existing laws will be adapted to digital, stresses Steven Guilbeault. Hate speech, sexual exploitation and terrorism are activities "illegal in the physical world and should be in the digital world", he insists.
To counter racist biases in algorithms, a portion of the law will make it possible to question the moderation made by the platforms themselves, explains Minister Guilbeault. "What we want to do is allow people or groups who are the target of these racist biases to be able to have mechanisms where they can make themselves heard," he concludes.
The platforms will have to act within 24 hours of the report. If they refuse to cooperate, an appointed digital security commissioner can then recommend sanctions. "We are talking about very steep fines, among the highest in the world," said Minister of Canadian Heritage Steven Guilbeault, in an interview with La Presse . As a last resort, the law provides for asking internet providers to prevent these platforms from accessing Canada.
“We need uniform and transparent rules on how online platforms deal with hatred, incitement to violence and harmful content online,” said Minister Guilbeault. According to him, holding a public consultation on this subject is a crucial step towards a “safer digital environment”.
The consultation will be an opportunity for the population to express themselves about the entire approach proposed by the government. Among other things, it will be a question of the type of content, the rules, the platforms covered by the regulation, as well as the new bodies responsible for enforcing this law. Comments to this effect should be sent online, before September 25, 2021.
However, private communications platforms, such as Messenger and WhatsApp, will be excluded from the bill. “There are privacy issues,” explains Minister Guilbeault. The bill could be brought to change, according to the evolution of technologies.
Promote freedom of expression
Does this regulation present a risk for freedom of expression? On the contrary, replies Minister Guilbeault. The bill seeks to increase this type of freedom. “The fact that people cannot express themselves on social media platforms without being victims of hatred or racism, it limits freedom of expression,” he argues.
With the regulations, existing laws will be adapted to digital, stresses Steven Guilbeault. Hate speech, sexual exploitation and terrorism are activities "illegal in the physical world and should be in the digital world", he insists.
To counter racist biases in algorithms, a portion of the law will make it possible to question the moderation made by the platforms themselves, explains Minister Guilbeault. "What we want to do is allow people or groups who are the target of these racist biases to be able to have mechanisms where they can make themselves heard," he concludes.
FLORENCE MORIN-MARTEL
PRESS
https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&tl=en&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lapresse.ca%2Factualites%2Fpolitique%2F2021-07-29%2Ffutur-projet-de-loi%2Fottawa-lance-une-consultation-pour-reglementer-les-reseaux-sociaux.php
PRESS
https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&tl=en&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lapresse.ca%2Factualites%2Fpolitique%2F2021-07-29%2Ffutur-projet-de-loi%2Fottawa-lance-une-consultation-pour-reglementer-les-reseaux-sociaux.php
