Once again, the Liberal government is attempting to restrict legal Internet content that they believe threatens “social stability” or is deemed “harmful” to Canada. This week, the government introduced Bill C-34, a 90-plus page piece of legislation that has sparked significant debate.
Child Protection as a Smokescreen
The provisions that grabbed headlines were those aimed at keeping teenagers under the age of 16 off social media platforms. The Liberals insist they are doing it for the children, trying to prevent addiction to short, fast-paced TikTok videos or undue influence from Instagram. However, deeper within the bill are clauses that allow government-anointed agencies and cabinet ministers to block web services from Canada and order legal content taken down.
This is the fourth attempt in four years by the Liberals to control what Canadians may see, hear, and post online. The first three efforts were turned back by widespread criticism from the public, commentators, and civil rights organizations. It is tempting to think the Liberals are using the defence of children as a smokescreen to hide their true goal: controlling the Internet and limiting public criticism they dislike.
What the Bill Entails
All social media platforms would be required to police their own services for anything the government considers “harmful content.” This includes illegal content but also extends to subjects like the glorification of criminal behaviour or terrorism, the promotion of antisocial actions, the denial of gender roles, and anything deemed hurtful to vulnerable groups (likely those designated by the Liberals). There is a clause attempting to assure no “unreasonable” limits on free speech, but the overall effect is a significant restriction on free expression.
In charge of this system will be a government-appointed “digital safety commissioner,” whose job will be to police the Internet. The Liberals promote this role as protecting children from online bullying, fraud, and the sharing of intimate photos. However, the commissioner will also have authority over what adults can and cannot say, particularly if it leads to “social disorder” or “harm to Canada.”
Historical Context and Concerns
Remember the Freedom Convoy in 2022? The Liberals accused participants of creating chaos, destabilizing Canadian democracy, and engaging in criminal behaviour, including rape, arson, and assault. None of these assertions turned out to be true. Whether the convoy undermined democracy is a matter of personal political opinion. But under Bill C-34, the digital commissioner would have the power—without trial or hearing—to force Internet service providers to take down any message supportive of the convoy or raising money for it.
Critics argue that this bill represents a dangerous overreach by the government, using child protection as a pretext for censorship. The broad definitions of harmful content and the lack of judicial oversight raise serious concerns about free speech and democratic accountability.
