The Montreal Economic Institute (IEDM) warned on Tuesday of the potential economic, cultural and legal consequences of Bill C-11, which would threaten freedom of expression.
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The legislative text tabled in November gives the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) a great deal of leeway, allowing it to indirectly control the content generated by individual users, believes the MEI.
“Bill C-11 seeks to correct blind spots in existing legislation and expand the empire of the CRTC. If adopted in its current form, Canadians could witness a massive bureaucratization of the most dynamic spaces for creation and expression of our time,” said Samuel Bachand, lawyer for LIS, in a press release.
The MEI believes that there is a great risk of tipping online broadcasting platforms and social media towards a highly regulated environment, if the bill is adopted in its current version.
“There are reasons to worry about the potentially harmful effects of installing a heavy state apparatus where freedom and the almost total absence of regulation have done wonders until now,” anticipated Mr. Bachand.
“If it really has no intention of regulating independent content uploaded by Canadian citizens, the government should amend the law and close this regulatory loophole before it is passed,” argued Gabriel Giguère, public policy analyst at the ‘IEDM.
