Forum: Author Hangout

Canada to Compel Digital Platforms to Remove Harmful Content

Canada said its rules are based on concepts introduced by the European Union, the U.K. and Australia. Canadian officials say the proposed measures would apply to social media platforms, adult entertainment sites where users can upload content, and live-streaming services.

While the claim is that it only applies to content that sexually exploits a child or abuse survivor or intimate content published without the individual's consent, it seems vague enough someone might try to enforce it against SOL/Bookapy to remove all content with anyone under 18 engaging in intimate activities.

The bill is awaiting Parliamentary approval.

Here's a potentially better link:

https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/news/2024/02/government-of-canada-introduces-legislation-to-combat-harmful-content-online-including-the-sexual-exploitation-of-children.html

I'm not that worried about the 'remove content' portion thus far. It seems very clearly tailored to requiring an actual person, which doesn't happen in fiction.

However, this part is more concerning, in my opinion:

The Online Harms Act would set out obligations for online platforms, including livestreaming and adult-content services, like Facebook, Twitch and PornHub. When it comes to these services, there is currently little accountability and transparency in terms of what platforms need to do to help ensure the safety of their users. Under this legislation, services would be required to reduce exposure to seven categories of harmful content and be open and transparent about the steps they are taking to do so.

Is SoL a service that fits their definition? If so, will it be required to take steps to prevent content from being accessible to minors? That's much more of a game-changer. If people need to go through age verification to read stories, the potential impact is enormous, both in cost for Lazeez and loss of readers for authors.

Worth noting that e.g. Amazon would have the same problem. Imagine Amazon trying to figure out which Kindle titles need to be kept away from minors! That's a nightmare waiting to happen.

Of course, it also means someone with very deep pockets has a vested interest in making sure the rules are only for visual depictions of actual persons, and not textual descriptions of fictional persons...