This bill, called the Protecting Young Persons from Exposure to Pornography Act, aims to prevent children under 18 from accessing pornographic material online. It makes it illegal for organizations to share pornographic content with young people in Canada for commercial reasons. The bill allows authorities to have Internet service providers (ISPs) block young people's access to certain websites. It also sets rules for verifying users' ages and imposes fines for violations. The goal is to protect young people's mental health and reduce harmful effects from exposure to online pornography.
If you are under 18, this law is designed to prevent you from seeing pornographic material online. Organizations that share this type of content commercially (to make money) could be fined up to $500,000 if they do not follow the rules. Internet providers might be required to block certain websites so that young people cannot access inappropriate content. Organizations must use approved methods to check the age of users before giving access. If they do not follow these rules, authorities can take legal action. The bill is meant to keep young people safe and promote healthier attitudes about sexuality.
The bill includes fines for organizations that break the rules: up to $250,000 for a first offense, and up to $500,000 for additional offenses. The bill also authorizes authorities to enforce the rules and to seek court orders to block access to illegal sites. Data unavailable regarding the total cost of enforcement or additional administrative expenses.
Supporters say this law will help protect young people's mental health by restricting their access to harmful material online. They argue that it will prevent exposure to sexual violence and demeaning content, which can influence attitudes and behaviors negatively. They also believe that new technology makes it possible to verify ages effectively and privately. By enforcing these rules, they say, the government can reduce risks like addiction and violence against women and girls.
Critics argue that the law might not be effective because enforcement is difficult. Some say it could restrict free speech and access to legitimate educational or artistic content. They worry that the law relies heavily on technology that may not always work perfectly to verify ages. Opponents also raise concerns about privacy rights and the potential for overreach, where lawful content could be unknowingly blocked. They suggest that the law could create new barriers rather than actually preventing access to harmful material.