Justin Trudeau Pushes 'Online Harms Act' To Hold TikTok, Meta, Google Accountable

In a bid to regulate and remove harmful online content, the Canadian government has introduced a new law that will hold major tech companies accountable.

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Additionally, the legislation will establish a regulatory body, the Digital Safety Commission, to enforce rules, receive complaints, and order content removal. An independent digital safety ombudsperson will also be appointed to support and advocate for users.

The bill will also create a new standalone hate crime offense, which could lead to penalties of up to life in prison. It will also set up a process for people to file complaints about online speech to the Canadian Human Rights Commission, which could order the user to remove the content and compensate victims up to C$20,000 (or $14,809).

Why It Matters: The Canadian government’s move to hold tech giants accountable for harmful online content comes in the wake of increasing global scrutiny of big tech’s role in online safety.

Photo by Art Babych on Shutterstock

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