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S-210At report stage in the House of Commons

Law Proposed to Limit Kids' Access to Porn Online

Limit Kids' Access to Porn

Introduced May 17, 2023·Last discussed Jun 7, 2024
Summary

This proposed law, called S-210, is about protecting kids from seeing porn online. It would make websites that have sexual content make sure kids can't get to it. They might have to use age verification, like asking for proof of age. This would change how young people use the internet. This proposed law affects anyone under 18 in Canada. It also affects websites that show sexual content. These websites would have to change how they work. They would need to find ways to block kids. If they don't, they could face consequences. This matters because many people worry about kids seeing porn too early. They think it can be harmful. This proposed law is trying to make the internet safer for young people. It's a big step towards protecting them from content that might not be good for them.

Where This Lands on Key Issues

Where this proposed law falls on the policy spectrums that Canadians care about

Identity & Human RightsMaintain existing protections only

The bill aims to protect children from exposure to sexual content, which aligns with prioritizing traditional values regarding the protection of minors and potentially limiting access to certain expressions of identity.

Crime & Public SafetyStronger law enforcement

By aiming to protect children from online sexual content, the bill leans towards a 'tough on crime' approach by potentially increasing enforcement and penalties for those who distribute such content.

This bill
Bill Quality
Solid

This proposed law aims to protect kids from online pornography by penalizing websites that don't verify ages. It also creates a process for the government to block access to these sites, but it's unclear how effective age verification will be and if blocking sites will affect adults' access too.

Things to Watch For

  • The specific methods for age verification are not defined in the law itself.
  • It's not clear how the government will decide which sites violate the law.
  • Blocking websites could accidentally prevent adults from accessing legal content.
  • The law doesn't address how to handle sexually explicit material that isn't 'for commercial purposes'.
  • There may be challenges in enforcing this law against websites based outside of Canada.
Progress

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