Canada considers bill to protect minors from online porn

Senator Miville-Dechêne’s bill, the Protecting Young Persons from Exposure to Pornography Act, was discussed Wednesday at the Wellington Building in Ottawa. The bill’s objective is to limit young people’s exposure to sexually explicit internet content to protect public health and safety, primarily their mental health. Bill S-210 would make it illegal for businesses to give children access to sexually explicit content on the internet, and it grants authorized law enforcement agencies power to stop explicit material from becoming available to children.

How will it impact Canada? Organizations have to employ age verification strategies to restrict access to sexually explicit material to anyone under the age of 18. The purpose of the bill is to protect young Canadians’ mental health by restricting their access to explicit material, according to the bill’s text. An organization that does not comply would face a fee of up to $250,000 for a first offense and up to $500,000 for a second or future offense.

What is the current state of the bill? The bill was introduced in the Canadian Senate in 2021 and is now undergoing its first formal examination in the House of Commons. Following delays in the House of Commons committee, the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security met on Monday to begin considering the measure. Witnesses were heard at this first session, which marked the beginning of a process that would include a thorough study of the law.