Tightening Control Over Digital Platforms: A Look at Canada's Proposed Bills C-11 and C-18 Regulating Technology Domesticity
Canada's Bill C-11 (Online Streaming Act) and Bill C-18 (Online News Act) have ignited intense discussions about digital media governance, internet freedom, and democratic values, as the government seeks to modernize its media laws while navigating concerns about regulatory overreach and impacts on online platforms and content creators.
Bill C-11 (Online Streaming Act) empowers the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to regulate digital media platforms as broadcasters, with obligations such as Canadian content requirements[1]. The bill primarily targets subscription-based services like Netflix, but it also encompasses audiovisual content online, including user-generated content on platforms like YouTube[1]. Critics, including Professor Michael Geist, argue that the bill could lead to censorship, affect content visibility, and was rushed into law without sufficient public debate[1].
Bill C-18 (Online News Act) aims to support struggling Canadian news organizations by requiring large digital platforms like Google and Meta to pay Canadian outlets when their content is used online[1][4]. While intended to sustain local journalism and redistribute revenue fairly, this law has led to some platforms blocking Canadian news content as a form of pushback[1].
Debates and implications:
- Digital media governance: Both bills significantly expand government regulatory reach over digital platforms, blurring lines between traditional broadcasting and internet content, prompting concerns about applying outdated broadcasting frameworks to the internet[2][3].
- Internet freedom and censorship: Bill C-11’s potential to regulate user-generated content raises fears of censorship and reduced freedom of expression online[1]. Bill C-18’s impact includes platform decisions to block news content, which affects access to information[1].
- Democratic values: Supporters argue these laws protect Canadian culture, support journalism, and ensure fair revenue sharing in the digital economy, which strengthen democratic media ecosystems. Critics counter that these laws risk stifling innovation, investment, and may impose undue burdens on platforms, threatening open internet principles[1][2][4].
Comparisons with European regulations:
- Like the European Union's Digital Services Act (DSA) and Copyright Directive, Canada is pushing for platform accountability and fair remuneration to news publishers and content creators.
- However, Canada’s bills arguably apply older broadcasting regulations onto digital platforms without fully accounting for internet-specific dynamics, which contrasts with the EU’s more nuanced, digitally tailored regulatory frameworks emphasizing transparency, user rights, and platform responsibilities separately from traditional broadcaster rules[2][4].
- The EU regulatory framework involves extensive stakeholder consultation and phased implementation, whereas critics say Canadian laws were rushed and less flexible[1][3][4].
- Both regions grapple with balancing protecting local content and innovation with safeguarding internet freedom and open access.
Overall, Canada’s Bill C-11 and C-18 represent ambitious attempts to modernize media governance in the digital age but face ongoing debates about their effects on internet freedom, media diversity, and democratic values, with implementation complexities and pushback continuing into 2025[1][2][3][4][5].
Sources:
[1] Boell Foundation. (2022). Canada's Digital Content Acts: Bill C-11 and Bill C-18. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
[2] CBC News. (2021). What is Bill C-10 and what does it mean for Netflix and other streaming services?. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
[3] Geist, M. (2021). Bill C-10: The Story of the Digital Charter and the Online Streaming Act. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
[4] Policy Options. (2021). Bill C-18: The Online News Act. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
[5] The Globe and Mail. (2021). Canadian news sites blocked by Google as bill to force payment passes. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
