BILL C-11 – THE ONLINE STREAMING ACT
It has been quite some time since we’ve talked about Bill C-11, the controversial bill that could affect online privacy and freedom of expression.
Despite the controversy and concerns surrounding Bill C-11, the government has continued to push for its passage. After passing from the House, Senators added an amendment to ensure that Bill C-11 will not regulate content that everyday Canadians post to social media. The Senate also added an amendment that would require age verification before a user could access pornographic content online. Both of these amendments would have significantly improved this bill but were rejected by the House of Commons.
The bill is now being considered by the Senate for the second time.
While the overall legislation is complex, our ask right now is simple: encourage your provincial Senators to either re-insert these Senate amendments or vote against this legislation entirely.
Go to easymail.arpacanada.ca to send that EasyMail.
Bill C-11, also called ‘The Online Streaming Act,’ amends Canada’s Broadcasting Act. This broadcasting act from 1991 provides the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) with its mandate, including the power to regulate the Canadian broadcasting system (cable, tv, radio, etc.). It is also intended to “support Canada’s creators, artists, and creative industries, and ensures that Canadian music and stories are available and accessible.” The details of the Broadcasting Act are challenging, and while this is not ARPA’s area of expertise, there are some concerns about the scope of Bill C-11 that need to be addressed.
