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Canadians skeptical of online harms bill making the internet safer

Less than half of respondents to Leger poll think new legislation will be effective
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Fewer than half of Canadians believe the federal government’s plan to regulate social media sites will make platforms safer, a new survey suggests. Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Arif Virani responds to questions from reporters in the Foyer of the House of Commons on Parliament Hill after Question Period, in Ottawa on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Fewer than half of Canadians believe the federal government’s plan to regulate social media sites will make platforms safer, a new survey suggests.

Polling firm Leger recently asked Canadians about the Liberal government’s proposed Online Harms Act, which contains a suite of measures meant to make social media platforms safer, particularly for children.

Half of respondents said they are wary of the government’s ability to protect free speech, and a majority said they support the controversial proposal to introduce stiffer sentences for hate speech crimes.

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