Justice Minister Warns MPs of ‘Unchecked Dangers’ of the Internet While Defending Online Harms Bill

Justice Minister Arif Virani defended his government’s Online Harms legislation during testimony before the Commons justice committee this week, as MPs, including those in his own party, questioned its reach. Mr. Virani told MPs the Online Harms Act (Bill C-63) will bring a new level of security to online communities and increase protection against the often inappropriate content appearing on children’s screens. “Social media is everywhere,” Mr. Virani told the committee March 21. “It brings unchecked dangers and horrific content. This frankly terrifies me. We need to make the internet safe.” Bill C-63 was introduced by the Liberal government last month in a bid to reduce Canadians’ exposure to “harmful content.” The act seeks to establish special protections for children and make online services like Facebook and YouTube “accountable for and transparent about how they are reducing exposure to harmful content.” Compliance is to be monitored by a five-member Digital Safety Commission....