Government Defends Online Harms Bill Amidst Criticism from Margaret Atwood

Justice Minister Arif Virani is defending the government's Online Harms Bill following criticism from renowned author Margaret Atwood, who compared the proposed legislation to George Orwell's dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four. Atwood expressed concerns about potential misuse of the bill and its impact on free speech on social media platforms. The Online Harms Bill aims to police harmful online content, including bullying, sexual exploitation, incitement of violence, and hate speech. Virani emphasized the importance of protecting freedom of expression while cracking down on expressions of detestation and vilification that cross the line into hate speech, clarifying that lawful insults or offensive comments would not fall under this category. Former Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin commended the government for addressing new online harms but raised concerns about the bill's proposed changes to the Criminal Code, predicting potential legal challenges in the future. The Canadian Civil Liberties Association also called for amendments to prevent draconian penalties that could restrict free speech. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre expressed support for criminalizing harmful online content categories but criticized the bill for creating more bureaucracy rather than providing adequate support for law enforcement. However, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme welcomed the legislation's tougher sentencing provisions and emphasized the importance of tech companies taking responsibility for monitoring and removing harmful online content, stating that the RCMP believes it can enforce the measures without requiring additional resources.