Goals of New Canadian Digital Charter Include Assuring Privacy, Eradicating Hate Online

Written on June 18, 2019.

Multiple news outlets are reporting on Canada’s new digital charter, which comprises 10 principles that are based on Canadian values that should guide all future government policies, legislation, and programs.

When introducing the charter late last month, Navdeep Bains, minister of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development, emphasized that data will drive business in the new digital economy. But he also noted that privacy, security, and “trust” are fundamental priorities, suggesting that Canadians must be able to trust their information is being used properly.

Bains also said he’d work with the government to review and possibly reform PIPEDA, the Statistics Act, and the Privacy Act.

A pair of Canadian law firms are among those outlets that have covered the story; each provides a summary of the principles: the Bennett Jones blog and the McCarthy Tetrault blog.

Mack Lamoureux, writing for Vice.com, recently reported the new charter is designed to help thwart online extremism and disinformation. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada will respond in meaningful ways if tech companies fail to reign in misinformation on their platforms.

In a recent speech in Paris, at the Viva Technology conference, Trudeau spoke at length about the Christchurch, New Zealand, shooting, and said he was ready to work with the private sector to eradicate violent and terrorist content.

“The platforms are failing their users and they’re failing our citizens,” he said. “They have to step up in a major way to counter disinformation. If they don’t, we will hold them to account and there will be meaningful financial consequences.”

According to the Vice article, Facebook, Microsoft, Twitter, Google, and Amazon have all signed on to this Christchurch Call for Action. The U.S. government has so far decided against joining the effort.