This Liberal MP wants to give out tickets for “online hate”

During a Justice Committee meeting on “online hate”, Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith suggested that the government should create a new judicial body to dish out tickets and warnings for those found to be guilty of harassment online.

ADVERTISEMENT
Image
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa Montreal QC
ADVERTISEMENT

During a Justice Committee meeting on “online hate”, Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith suggested that the government should create a new judicial body to dish out tickets and warnings for those found to be guilty of harassment online.

“The blunt instrument of imprisoning someone, putting them through a  rigorous criminal trial, is probably not the right answer for enforcing rules against hate speech online in every instance,” said Erskine-Smith.

Included in the potential grounds for offence in this framework were online defamation, threats and harassment. Erskine-Smith suggested that these actions be treated like non-criminal violations such as public intoxication.

Critics accused the suggestion as unclear and subjective.

“My question for you is, who is determining what is hateful?” asked Jay Cameron, the litigation manager for the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms. Cameron was one of the expert witnesses called to testify before the committee. He went on to suggest that such a system would unfairly target conservative opinions and voices, citing pro-life activism as an example.

The committee meeting comes shortly after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau returned from Paris after signing the Christchurch Call to Action, and promising to release a “digital charter” intended on combating hate online and regulating social media companies to better police their content.

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Join and support independent free thinkers!

We’re independent and can’t be cancelled. The establishment media is increasingly dedicated to divisive cancel culture, corporate wokeism, and political correctness, all while covering up corruption from the corridors of power. The need for fact-based journalism and thoughtful analysis has never been greater. When you support The Post Millennial, you support freedom of the press at a time when it's under direct attack. Join the ranks of independent, free thinkers by supporting us today for as little as $1.

Support The Post Millennial

Remind me next month

To find out what personal data we collect and how we use it, please visit our Privacy Policy

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy
ADVERTISEMENT
© 2024 The Post Millennial, Privacy Policy | Do Not Sell My Personal Information