Justice Centre warns revived Online Harms bill would curb free speech, due process
A civil liberties group is urging Ottawa not to reintroduce proposed online harms legislation, arguing it would significantly undermine freedom of expression, due process and the rule of law.
The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms said Wednesday it has launched a national campaign calling on the federal government not to revive Bill C-63, the proposed Online Harms Act, or any substantially similar legislation.
In a statement, the organization said Bill C-63 would allow pre-emptive restrictions on individual liberty and enable authorities to investigate, penalize or remove online content using vague and subjective standards. It said the bill would establish a Digital Safety Commission with sweeping powers, force platforms to remove lawful content, and impose major penalties on companies that fail to comply.
The group also warned the legislation would expand the Canadian Human Rights Commission’s reach to police non-criminal expression, permit anonymous complaints, strip respondents of the right to face their accusers, and allow penalties without proof of harm or identifiable victims. It said the bill would give regulators and cabinet ministers greater control over online expression while bypassing meaningful parliamentary debate and public scrutiny.
To help Canadians take action, the Justice Centre said it has created an online tool featuring a ready-to-send letter addressed directly to the minister of justice and the prime minister.
