Tesla CEO Elon Musk voiced strong opposition to a proposed Canadian law that aims to curb online hate content and strengthen online protection, especially for children. Musk expressed his concerns via a tweet, sharing a news article about the legislation, which reportedly grants police the authority to arrest individuals who post hate speech. He stated, “This sounds insane if accurate! @CommunityNotes, please check.” Community Notes is the crowdsourced fact-checking service of X, a company founded by Musk. The Online Harms Act was introduced by the Canadian government led by Justin Trudeau on February 26. The government’s stated goal is to provide stronger online protections for children and safeguard individuals from online hate and other harmful content. The bill aims to hold online platforms accountable for reducing users’ exposure to harmful content and preventing its spread. The legislation also seeks to remove content that sexually victimizes children or revictimizes survivors, as well as intimate content shared without consent. Additionally, the bill proposes increasing the maximum sentences for illegal hate speech. It also enables citizens to report discriminatory speech to a human rights tribunal and seek compensation or fines against perpetrators. Musk’s criticism raises concerns about the potential impact of the legislation on freedom of speech and the role of law enforcement in regulating online content. The bill is currently under review, and its implications will likely be subject to ongoing debate.
Elon Musk Objects to Canadian Online Hate Speech Regulation
