Canada introduces sweeping new online safety rules

Canada has introduced a new bill aimed at tackling online abuse, with severe penalties for hate crimes, including life imprisonment for inciting genocide.

The proposed Online Harms Act mandates social media platforms to promptly remove offensive content, such as those that sexualise children, within 24 hours.

This legislation extends its reach to regulate social media companies, live streaming platforms, and websites hosting user-generated adult content.

However, the bill must still undergo parliamentary voting in Canada.

The legislation lists seven categories of harmful content that service providers must expeditiously remove from their platforms. This includes content intended to bully children or promote self-harm.

Additionally, the proposed Act establishes a “Digital Safety Commission of Canada” to oversee and regulate online platforms.

“We know the harms we experience online can have real world impacts with tragic, and sometimes fatal consequences,” Justice Minister Arif Virani said in a news conference on Monday.

“And yet so much of this goes unchecked.”