US EditionLiberals taking ‘fresh’ look at online harms bill, justice minister says
CANADA, JUN 29 – The Liberal government aims to update online harms laws to tackle AI-driven risks and protect children, with non-consensual deepfake distribution to become a criminal offense, officials said.
- Justice Minister Sean Fraser indicated that the government intends to reevaluate its approach to online harms legislation during the summer of 2025.
- This follows the Online Harms Act introduced by Arif Virani in 2024, which did not pass before the spring 2025 federal election called, causing the bill to die on the order paper.
- The original legislation required social media companies to protect children and explain risk reduction, included 24-hour takedown provisions for harmful content, and combined hate-focused Criminal Code amendments, which critics said risked chilling free speech.
- Fraser said no decision exists yet on whether to reintroduce the legislation in one bill or two, though some online harms measures could appear in a crime bill planned for fall 2025 and broader reforms later; he also expects significant engagement with former heritage minister Guilbeault and AI minister Solomon.
- Fraser added Canadians can expect measures addressing non-consensual sexual deepfakes and child exploitation in upcoming reforms, acknowledging that generative AI's growth is reshaping policy needs in online harms legislation.
41 Articles
41 Articles
Liberals Taking ‘Fresh’ Look at Online Harms Bill, Justice Minister Says
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…
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.
The Toronto Star
Liberals taking ‘fresh’ look at online harms bill, justice minister says
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
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