Latest news with #onlineharms
National Post
29-06-2025
- Politics
- National Post
Liberals revamping online harms bill with focus on deepfakes, exploitation and AI: justice minister
Justice Minister Sean Fraser says the federal government plans to take a 'fresh' look at its online harms legislation over the summer, but it's not clear yet exactly what the bill will look like when it is reintroduced. Article content It would be the Liberals' third attempt to pass legislation to address harmful behaviour online. Article content Article content Fraser told The Canadian Press in an interview that the government hasn't decided whether to rewrite or simply reintroduce the Online Harms Act, which was introduced in 2024 but did not pass. Article content Article content He said Canadians can expect measures addressing deepfakes and child exploitation 'to be included in legislative reforms coming up in the near future.' Article content Article content In their election platform, the Liberals promised to make the distribution of non-consensual sexual deepfakes a criminal offence. They also pledged to introduce a bill to protect children from online sexploitation and extortion, and to give law enforcement and prosecutors additional tools to pursue those crimes. Article content Fraser said the growth of artificial intelligence is influencing the discussions. Article content The spread of generative AI has changed both the online space and everyday life since the federal government first introduced the legislation. Article content 'We will have that in mind as we revisit the specifics of online harms legislation,' he added. 'The world changes and governments would be remiss if they didn't recognize that policy needs to shift.' Article content Online harms legislation was first proposed by then-heritage minister Steven Guilbeault in 2021, but after widespread criticism, the government pivoted and shifted the file to the justice minister. Article content Article content Guilbeault is now back in his old ministry, which has been renamed Canadian identity and culture. Prime Minister Mark Carney has also created an artificial intelligence ministry, headed up by rookie MP Evan Solomon. Article content Article content Fraser said he expects 'significant engagement' with Guilbeault and Solomon, but it will be determined later which minister will take the lead on the file. Article content The first version of the bill alarmed critics who warned that the provision requiring platforms to take down offending content within 24 hours would undermine free expression. Article content When Fraser's predecessor, Arif Virani, introduced the Online Harms Act in 2024, the bill restricted that 24-hour takedown provision to content that sexually victimizes a child or revictimizes a survivor, or intimate content shared without consent, including deepfakes. Article content
CBC
29-06-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Liberals taking 'fresh' look at online harms bill, says Justice Minister Sean Fraser
Justice Minister Sean Fraser says the federal government plans to take a "fresh" look at its online harms legislation over the summer but it's not clear yet exactly what the bill will look like when it is reintroduced. It would be the Liberals third attempt to pass legislation to address harmful behaviour online. Fraser told The Canadian Press in an interview that the government hasn't decided whether to rewrite or simply reintroduce the Online Harms Act, which was introduced in 2024 but did not pass. He said Canadians can expect measures addressing deepfakes and child exploitation "to be included in legislative reforms coming up in the near future." WATCH | A bill to protect people — especially children — from harmful content online: Federal government introduces online harms bill 1 year ago Duration 4:59 The Liberal government has tabled bill C-63, which aims to protect people — especially children — from harmful content online, including sexual exploitation and hate speech, through the creation of a new regulatory body called the Digital Safety Commission and changes to the Criminal Code. In their election platform, the Liberals promised to make the distribution of non-consensual sexual deepfakes a criminal offence. They also pledged to introduce a bill to protect children from online sexploitation and extortion, and to give law enforcement and prosecutors additional tools to pursue those crimes. Fraser said the growth of artificial intelligence is influencing the discussions. The spread of generative AI has changed both the online space and everyday life since the federal government first introduced the legislation. "We will have that in mind as we revisit the specifics of online harms legislation," he added. "The world changes and governments would be remiss if they didn't recognize that policy needs to shift." Fraser expects to work with other ministers Online harms legislation was first proposed by then-heritage minister Steven Guilbeault in 2021. After widespread criticism, the government pivoted and shifted the file to the justice minister. Guilbeault is now back in his old ministry, which has been renamed Canadian identity and culture. Prime Minister Mark Carney has also created an artificial intelligence ministry, headed up by rookie MP Evan Solomon. Fraser said he expects "significant engagement" with Guilbeault and Solomon but it will be determined later which minister will take the lead on it. The first version of the bill alarmed critics who warned that the provision requiring platforms to take down offending content within 24 hours would undermine free expression. When Fraser's predecessor, Arif Virani, introduced the Online Harms Act in 2024, the bill restricted that 24-hour takedown provision to content that sexually victimizes a child or revictimizes a survivor, or intimate content shared without consent, including deepfakes. It also required social media companies to explain how they plan to reduce the risks their platforms pose to users, and imposed on them a duty to protect children. But the government also included Criminal Code and Canadian Human Rights Act amendments targeting hate in the same legislation — which some said risked chilling free speech. In late 2024, Virani said he would split those controversial provisions off into a separate bill, but that didn't happen before this spring's federal election was called and the bill died on the order paper. Fraser said no decision has been made yet on whether to bring back online harms legislation in one bill or two. "That is precisely the kind of thing that I want to have an opportunity to discuss with stakeholders, to ensure we're moving forward in a way that will create a broad base of public support," he said. Fraser said the government could "modify existing versions that we may have on the shelf from the previous Parliament as may be needed, or to accept the form in which we had the legislation." He added he wants to have a "fresh consideration of the path forward, where I personally can benefit from the advice of those closest to the file who know best how to keep kids safe online." While the government hasn't set a date to introduce legislation, it could include some online harms measures in a crime bill Fraser plans to table in the fall. Fraser said online harms provisions that "touch more specifically on criminal activity" could be "included in one piece of legislation, with a broader set of reforms on online harms at a different time."
CTV News
29-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Liberals taking ‘fresh' look at online harms bill, justice minister says
Minister of Justice Sean Fraser arrives for a cabinet meeting on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick OTTAWA — Justice Minister Sean Fraser says the federal government plans to take a 'fresh' look at its online harms legislation over the summer but it's not clear yet exactly what the bill will look like when it is reintroduced. It would be the Liberals third attempt to pass legislation to address harmful behaviour online. Fraser told The Canadian Press in an interview that the government hasn't decided whether to rewrite or simply reintroduce the Online Harms Act, which was introduced in 2024 but did not pass. He said Canadians can expect measures addressing deepfakes and child exploitation 'to be included in legislative reforms coming up in the near future.' In their election platform, the Liberals promised to make the distribution of non-consensual sexual deepfakes a criminal offence. They also pledged to introduce a bill to protect children from online sexploitation and extortion, and to give law enforcement and prosecutors additional tools to pursue those crimes. Fraser said the growth of artificial intelligence is influencing the discussions. The spread of generative AI has changed both the online space and everyday life since the federal government first introduced the legislation. 'We will have that in mind as we revisit the specifics of online harms legislation,' he added. 'The world changes and governments would be remiss if they didn't recognize that policy needs to shift.' Online harms legislation was first proposed by then-heritage minister Steven Guilbeault in 2021, but after widespread criticism, the government pivoted and shifted the file to the justice minister. Guilbeault is now back in his old ministry, which has been renamed Canadian identity and culture. Prime Minister Mark Carney has also created an artificial intelligence ministry, headed up by rookie MP Evan Solomon. Fraser said he expects 'significant engagement' with Guilbeault and Solomon but it will be determined later which minister will take the lead on it. The first version of the bill alarmed critics who warned that the provision requiring platforms to take down offending content within 24 hours would undermine free expression. When Fraser's predecessor, Arif Virani, introduced the Online Harms Act in 2024, the bill restricted that 24-hour takedown provision to content that sexually victimizes a child or revictimizes a survivor, or intimate content shared without consent, including deepfakes. It also required social media companies to explain how they plan to reduce the risks their platforms pose to users, and imposed on them a duty to protect children. But the government also included Criminal Code and Canadian Human Rights Act amendments targeting hate in the same legislation — which some said risked chilling free speech. In late 2024, Virani said he would split those controversial provisions off into a separate bill, but that didn't happen before this spring's federal election was called and the bill died on the order paper. Fraser said no decision has been made yet on whether to bring back online harms legislation in one bill or two. 'That is precisely the kind of thing that I want to have an opportunity to discuss with stakeholders, to ensure we're moving forward in a way that will create a broad base of public support,' he said. Fraser said the government could 'modify existing versions that we may have on the shelf from the previous Parliament as may be needed, or to accept the form in which we had the legislation.' He added he wants to have a 'fresh consideration of the path forward, where I personally can benefit from the advice of those closest to the file who know best how to keep kids safe online.' While the government hasn't set a date to introduce legislation, it could include some online harms measures in a crime bill Fraser plans to table in the fall. Fraser said online harms provisions that 'touch more specifically on criminal activity' could be 'included in one piece of legislation, with a broader set of reforms on online harms at a different time.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 29, 2025. Anja Karadeglija, The Canadian Press
Globe and Mail
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Globe and Mail
Ottawa pressed to split online harms bill to fast-track its passage
Child-safety advocates and technology experts are urging the federal government to swiftly bring back the online harms bill, but to split it in two to speed passage of measures that protect children from abuse. Bill C-63, which died when the last Parliament was prorogued in January, included initiatives to combat online child abuse and hate. But it faced sharp criticism from opposition MPs and civil liberty advocates for also proposing new criminal offences for hate propaganda and hate crimes – including life in prison for inciting genocide. Advocacy group OpenMedia says hundreds of messages have been sent to MPs since the election calling for the government to reintroduce the online harms bill. They want it to focus on measures to improve online safety for children and youth, and to create an independent regulator to tackle predatory behaviour, bullying and abuse online, while protecting online privacy or expression. The bill drew criticism from civil liberties groups for proposing a 'peace bond' to deter people feared to be planning to carry out hate crimes and hate propaganda offences, with penalties such as house arrest. Government ministers have indicated they plan to bring back the online harms bill but have not yet confirmed who would be shepherding it through Parliament. Will Carney's to-do list be hindered by parliamentary tactics? How the next government can protect Canada's information ecosystem Earlier this month, Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon said he expected it would be steered through by Canadian Identity Minister Steven Guilbeault. Among those calling for a swift reintroduction of the bill is Carol Todd, the mother of Amanda Todd, a teenager who died by suicide after falling victim to cyberbullying. She warned that Canada is lagging far behind countries such as the U.S. and Britain, which have already passed laws to protect people in the digital sphere. Ms. Todd said the government should take feedback it received on Bill C-63 before the election, including criticism of increased penalties for hate crimes, and put the Criminal Code measures on a separate track. 'They need to do two bills. If they put the same bill through, the same things will happen again and it will get held up,' she said. Bill C-63 would have forced online platforms to swiftly remove child sexual abuse material, intimate content shared without consent, and posts encouraging a child to self-harm. It would have created a digital safety commission and ombudsperson to combat online hate. 'The previous government's attempt to combine a platform accountability bill with a criminal justice bill was unwise,' said John Matheson, who leads the Canadian arm of Reset Tech, a global non-profit that fights digital threats to democracy, 'The Carney government would miss the mark if they do not create a new public regulator to hold platforms accountable in keeping our kids safe,' he said. The advocacy group OpenMedia wants the government to bring back the bill soon after MPs return from their summer break. 'Canada's next Online Harms Act should be about addressing the worst online harms, and not package in broader measures that aren't about the consequences of digital technologies,' said Matt Hatfield, the group's executive director. He said the controversy over new criminal penalties for hate speech and hate crimes 'completely overshadowed discussion of part one, the real core of the Online Harms Act.' 'There's still critical amendments to make to part one's text to strike the right balance between safety and online privacy and expression, but these changes are at a scale a parliamentary committee given adequate time can accomplish.' Lianna McDonald, executive director of the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, said it 'would not be opposed to the approach of addressing Criminal Code and human rights amendments through its own bill or bills, and addressing online harms to children in its own bill.' 'It was clear in the last session that there was consensus amongst our elected officials that legislative action to protect children from online harms is urgently needed, so it seems more likely that a bill focused on the protection of children will be able to move forward,' she said. Charlotte Moore Hepburn, medical director of the division of pediatrics at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, said 'a new bill – one that prioritizes online safety for children and youth – is essential.'
SBS Australia
24-06-2025
- SBS Australia
Five takeaways from the eSafety Commissioner's National Press Club address
Australia's eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant last addressed the National Press Club in in 2018. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch Australia's eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, has addressed the National Press Club to discuss the online harms faced by children and the upcoming implementation of the teen social media ban. Inman Grant's speech was titled: Swimming between the digital flags: helping young Australians navigate social media's dangerous currents. At times, she leaned into the metaphor. "Let's make sure the flags are up, the lifeguards are on duty, and the rips are clearly marked — because when it comes to keeping our kids safer online, we all have a role to play," she said. Here are five takeaways from her speech. Social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X and Snapchat are expected to be included in the ban, with the final decision to be made by the communications minister before the ban comes into effect. YouTube was initially exempt from the legislation, but Inman Grant said on Tuesday that the government should not name specific platforms as exclusions. "This wasn't just about YouTube," she said. "Our recommendation was that no specific platform be exempted because the relative risks and harms can change at any given moment. The commissioner said YouTube has mastered "persuasive design features" which drive users down algorithmic rabbit holes. "It's a very popular and prevalent platform, the most prevalent used by children and, correspondingly, it's where they achieve the most amount of harm," she said. "I think any platform that says they are absolutely safe is absolutely spinning words." She added that this recommendation would not stop teachers from showing educational YouTube content while logged out from the platform. Google, which owns YouTube, said the platform is used in classrooms across Australia. "YouTube is not a social media platform; it is a video streaming platform with a library of free, high-quality content, and TV screens are increasingly the most popular place to watch," a company spokesperson said. "eSafety's advice goes against the government's own commitment, its own research on community sentiment, independent research, and the view of key stakeholders in this debate, including the 36 Months campaign that spurred this legislation. "Today's position from the eSafety Commissioner represents inconsistent and contradictory advice." Google has urged the government to allow young Australians to continue to access YouTube. The eSafety Commissioner spoke about the importance of recognising children's digital rights including "rights to participation, the right to dignity, the right to be free from online violence and, of course, the right to privacy." "There is no question social media offers benefits and opportunities, including connection and belonging — and these are important digital rights we want to preserve," Inman Grant said. Experts like Lizzie O'Shea say there are concerns about privacy resulting from the use of age assurance technology. These technologies are used to assess a user's age online through methods like uploading ID or biometric face scanning. "Many Australians and many young people instinctively support the ban, but if you ask them further questions about it, including concerns about privacy and security, they are also very high," she said. "Are there technologies available that can protect privacy and security that don't acquire huge amounts of information to implement age assurance? I'm not sure that there is." The founder and chair of Digital Rights Watch says there are concerns about how the ban will work in practice. "We are very concerned about the implementation of the ban, how it will work, and in fact how practically it can operate," O'Shea said. "Young people are required to use these kinds of media sites all the time for accessing educational content in places like schools. "It highlights some of the real challenges from a policy perspective and a practical one as to how this social media ban is actually going to be implemented." Seven in 10 children have encountered content associated with harm — including misogynistic content, hate material and content promoting disordered eating — according to new research from the eSafety Commissioner's office. The data comes from a survey of over 2,600 children aged between 10 and 15. "Children told us that 75 per cent of this content was most recently encountered on social media," Inman Grant said. "YouTube was the most frequently cited platform, with almost four in 10 children reporting exposure to content associated with harm there. "Perhaps the most troubling finding was that one in seven children we surveyed reported experiencing online grooming-like behaviour from adults or other children at least four years older." The eSafety Commissioner said the harm was experienced on and off social media. "While 36 per cent of kids most recently experienced online abuse from their peers there, another 36 per cent experienced online bullying on messaging apps and 26 per cent through online gaming platforms." "This demonstrates that this all-too-human behaviour can migrate to wherever kids are online." Inman Grant said the minimum age legislation places the obligation on platforms, rather than parents. "We are seeking to create some friction in a system to protect children where previously there has been close to none," the commissioner said. "And in doing so, we can also provide some much-needed support for parents and carers struggling with these issues. "It's a constant challenge for parents having to juggle the urge to deny access to services they fear are harmful with the anxiety of leaving their kids socially excluded." The commissioner said the responsibility for managing this "lies, as it should, with the platforms themselves and there are heavy penalties for companies who fail to take reasonable steps to prevent underage account holders onto their services — of up to $49.5 million per breach". "We are treating Big Tech like the extractive industry it has become," she said. "Australia is legitimately asking companies to provide the lifejackets and safety guardrails that we expect from almost every other consumer-facing industry." The commissioner says children need time to be taught key digital skills. "Teaching digital and algorithmic literacy is the closest thing we have to online swimming lessons," she said. The eSafety commissioner also spoke about unregulated AI models, addressing the risks of AI companions in particular. "Emotional attachment to AI companions are built-in by design, using anthropomorphism to generate human-like responses and engineered sycophancy to provide constant affirmation and the feeling of deep connection," Inman Grant said. "Lessons from overseas have highlighted tragic cases where these chatbots have engaged in quasi-romantic relationships with teens that have tragically ended in suicide." Inman Grant said there are risks to children also present in apps using generative AI. "The rise of so-called 'declothing apps' or services that use generative AI to create pornography or 'nudify' images without effective controls is tremendous cause for concern," she said. "There is no positive use case for these kinds of apps – and they are starting to wreak systematic damage on teenagers across Australia, mostly girls."
