Canada unveils law to force tech firms to remove ‘harmful’ content online
Al JazeeraFeb 28
Canada Proposes House Arrest for Potential Hate Crime Risk
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Image copyright: Saffron Blaze via Wikimedia Commons
The Facts
Under the Online Harms Bill set forth by the Liberal Party of Canada, a set of provisions includes proposed steep penalties to combat online abuse — including house arrest for people at risk of committing hate crimes.
House arrest procedures would involve electronic tagging, compulsory drug testing, and a communication ban if a judge sees the potential for a future hate crime.
The Spin
Right narrative
It's ironic that a global liberal icon like Prime Minister Justin Trudeau would conjure up such a dystopian proposal as the proposed Online Harms Act. There's no desperate need for such an autocratic law in a peaceful and prosperous nation like Canada. However well they may package it to make it palatable, Canada's parliament must reject this intrusion into personal liberties outright.
Left narrative
If Canada must remain the haven of peace that it largely still is today, the country must buffet itself from a rising tide of hatred and hate speech. The proposed new law is a step in that direction and sets the bar deliberately high for the provisions that have drawn criticism — including life sentences for serious hate crimes. Nothing will be allowed to jeopardize free speech in Canada and vulnerable communities must also be protected.
