Conservative MP Joy Smith introduces the Clean Internet Act.
The Clean Internet Act (Bill C-427) is a newly submitted private member bill in the Parliament of Canada by Conservative MP Joy Smith, that among many things will mandate that ISPs obtain a license in order to offer internet services as well as require them to DENY internet service to anyone who violates any of the Act’s stipulations.
“In an age when the Internet is increasingly being used for criminal and exploitive purposes, it is the responsibility of parents and all Canadians to protect our vulnerable citizens”, says MP Smith. “This Clean Internet Act is one more step towards ending violence and exploitation of women and children in Canada and abroad.”
The bill describes itself as “An Act to prevent the use of the Internet to distribute child pornography, material that advocates, promotes or incites racial hatred, and material that portrays or promotes violence against women.”
ISPs will be required to take “all reasonable steps” to minimize the use of the Internet for the purposes of violence and racial hatred toward women and child pornography material from being accessed, and to withhold internet service from persons who have been convicted by an offence under this Act within the previous seven years.
It sounds sort of reasonable on its surface, I mean what’s not to like about a bill that punishes pedophiles and the cowards out there who would abuse women? But, as always the devil is in the details.
First of all, it states that “No person may offer the services of or operate as an Internet service provider unless the person has been granted a licence to operate as an Internet service provider.” The license is then subject to the terms that the ISP must terminate internet service immediately to those suspected of violating the act, and that that suspension of service is to last 7 years! ISPs would always almost certainly error on the side of caution and terminate service even though it may not be justified. To terminate citizens access to the internet, especially in today’s digital age is criminal in and of itself.
The Minister of Industry may also order an ISP to use all means that are reasonably available to prevent access by its subscribers to any material on the Internet that the Minister, after reasonable inquiry, determines to be in violation of the Act.
Fortunately, as Canadian law professor Michael Geist points out, “Given that this is a private member’s bill, it is very unlikely to become law.”
For Canada’s sake, I hope so.
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The conservatives really are a piece of work I never liked their policies and still do not like them. The only reason they have been winning seats is that apparently people only care about tax cuts and getting money in their pocket. Everyone I know that have voted from them did so because they would get so and so money from so and so tax cut. No one cares about what they are trying to dismantle the worlds most successful grain company that is government run and holds a monopoly to get farmers more money. No one cares that they are some of the most heavily lobbied politicians we have ever had. No one cares that they have done a 360 on their promise to clean up government. All people want is that extra 100$ a month from tax breaks. My only hope is that the other parties have their election plan in check because if pulled off right they should be able to trample the conservatives they slipped up in the past they will slip up again.
It really is kind scary and not something you’d expect from the normally more libertarian-esque Canadian culture.
Wow sorry about the bad spelling and grammar I just woke up when I wrote that.
Haha you gotta love the Conservatives sounds like something we’d get here in the states.
what about wi fi users? is there a safeguard so you cant lose your access if someone breaks into your wi fi connection(war driving and biggybacking)?