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Safe Social Media Act

Bill C-34, Safe Social Media Act · Second reading · now at committee in the House Where it stands

What Bill C-34 would do

The bill would create the Digital Safety Act and set up the Digital Safety Commission of Canada to oversee it. Operators of regulated social media and chatbot services would have to mitigate exposure to harmful content, label synthetic content, and protect children through design features and age limits. Platforms would also have to remove non-consensual intimate content and child sexual abuse material, and submit digital safety plans to the commission.

Official text

127 statements

Charles Sousa

Liberal
“This bill does not stop freedom of expression. Our constitutional rights will stay protected. Instead, it sets rules to protect children from online predators and harmful content.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, it is important that every determination we make in the House abides by our Constitution and the right to freedom of expression. The act would not prohibit that. It is putting forward parameters to safeguard the most vulnerable in our society, who are underage, so they are not exposed to harmful incidents that predators are taking hold of at this time. Our expressions of freedom, the freedom that is enabled through our Constitution, will always prevail.

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Guillaume Deschênes-Thériault

Liberal
“People in my riding worry about what kids see online and want them protected. Can my colleague explain why we need to pass this social media safety bill right now?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask my hon. colleague why it is important to act now. I think there was an expectation among the Canadian population to do that. When I speak with people in my riding, some are asking how we can better protect our children. There are some concerns about what they are seeing on social media, so I would like to hear his view on what he has heard in his riding and why it is important to act now with Bill C-34.

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Charles Sousa

Liberal
“Parents are responsible for their children, but they need help protecting them online. Even very engaged parents cannot watch everything their kids see on the internet. This bill gives parents the support they are asking for.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is correct in stating what is implicit in this act, which is that the duty and responsibility for children falls to their parents, but parents are looking for support. They are looking for ways that enable them to provide support. Colleagues and individuals have called me, like lawyers in the community who are extremely engaged and affluent in what they do. One has a wife who is the president and CEO of a major corporation in Ontario. They are concerned that their 11-year-old twins are being exposed to content that they do not always have the ability to oversee. This act would be a supplement to support parents as well.

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Guillaume Deschênes-Thériault

Liberal
“We all want to protect children online. Since we agree on that goal, will the member vote to send this bill to committee?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, throughout the evening, we heard all of our colleagues talk about a common goal: We all want to better protect children online, on both sides of the House. Some members felt that some aspects of the bill could be improved, but I think we all agree on the objective of Bill C-34. If we agree on the objective, which is to better protect children online, I would like my colleague to tell us clearly whether he plans to vote in favour of Bill C-34 at second reading in order to refer it to committee.

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Guillaume Deschênes-Thériault

Liberal
“My colleague wants to vote for this bill so committee can study it, but he says it needs work. If he supports the bill, he must think it does some good. What changes does he want to make to it?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, my colleague said that the bill has room for improvement, but he also said that he wants it to be passed at second reading so it can go to committee. What worthwhile improvements does he see in the bill? If he intends to support it at second reading, then he must believe it contains positive measures.

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Natilien Joseph

Liberal
“Will the Conservatives vote for this bill to help parents who worry about online dangers to their children?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I will ask the same question that my colleague asked our colleague earlier. Will the Conservatives vote in favour of the bill in order to support parents who are struggling and who are concerned about the dangers children face online?

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Guillaume Deschênes-Thériault

Liberal
“I want all members to agree to end our meeting early.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I believe if you seek it, you will find unanimous consent to see the clock at 1:13 a.m.

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More from sitting 157

All 35 items ·
  1. Oral Questions Finance 12 statements
  2. Oral Questions Intergovernmental Relations 6 statements
  3. Oral Questions Finance 4 statements
  4. Oral Questions Intergovernmental Affairs 6 statements
  5. Oral Questions Finance 10 statements
  6. Oral Questions Steel and Aluminum Industry 13 statements
  7. Oral Questions Natural Resources 6 statements
  8. Oral Questions The Economy 8 statements
  9. Oral Questions Labour 2 statements
  10. Oral Questions Parks Canada 2 statements
  11. Oral Questions Labour 2 statements
  12. Oral Questions Taxation 8 statements
  13. Private Members' Business Points of Order 2 statements
  14. Oral Questions Finance 6 statements
  15. Government Orders Safe Social Media Act 23 statements
  16. Private Members' Business Protecting Young Persons from Exposure to Pornography Act 7 statements
  17. Government Orders Safe Social Media Act 202 statements
  18. Adjournment Proceedings Adjournment Proceedings 4 statements
  19. Adjournment Proceedings Adjournment Proceedings 4 statements