The federal government says it is designing a new “regulatory structure” that could include a commission tasked with enforcing social media platforms to specifically target “harmful content” online.
The committee recommended in November 2022 that Ottawa force online platforms to “collect and make data publicly available about instances of harassment and promoting violence against journalists and other human rights defenders.”
Cabinet said in a document detailing the government’s response that it agrees with the recommendations before adding that it is already working on “a new legislative and regulatory framework for online services” that could include the creation of a “Digital Safety Commission.”
The new commission would be tasked with enforcing the proposed online regulations, which include new rules that would compel online services to “identify, assess, and mitigate risks on their platforms through their own internal systems and processes.”
Cabinet also said that the new regulatory framework would likely include the use of metrics to monitor if online platforms are meeting obligations, adding that the metrics could be measured by the federal government through regular reports and audits.
Cabinet said it has not yet set a timeline for introducing the legislation, but added that the Heritage Department and other federal offices are currently working on drafting it.
The commission could be given “strong audit and enforcement powers” to ensure that online platforms follow the regulations, the document said.
Internet Regulation
Details about the proposed commission come about a year after Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez formed a panel of 12 experts to hold discussions and give recommendations to the government about drafting an internet regulation bill.“While always ensuring and defending free speech, we must make it clear that it cannot be OK to bully and attack people online,” he said on Nov. 14, adding that governments and “especially big technology companies” hold a responsibility to “address online harassment and violence to ensure trust in technology.”
MPs voted to reject a number of the Senate’s proposed amendments to the bill, thus it must pass another vote by senators before it can be passed into law.