Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre sees evidence of a plan to censor social media in a regulation that requires certain platforms to register with the federal government if they report eight-figure revenue.

“Justin Trudeau was warned that the Online Censorship Act would censor what people could see and say online. The Liberals denied it. That’s exactly what they do,” wrote the leader of the official opposition in English on X (formerly Twitter), Monday morning.

Mr Poilievre also shared the comments of several members of his group who were shocked by Friday’s publicationa regulation of the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), with which large platforms must register.

Affected are all “broadcast services” that generate annual revenue of $10 million or more in Canada, including social networks. They have until November 28 to report to the regulator and provide certain information about their activities. This is an initial requirement under the Online Streaming Act (C-11).

Social networks included

Audiobook or video game services are not required to register, but any other platform “that distributes audio or audiovisual content intended to inform, educate or entertain” does. This includes, but is not limited to, social media, online subscription television services, podcasting services and, in general, any website that allows you to stream or download content.

“ [L’ex-ministre du Patrimoine canadien] Didn’t Pablo Rodriguez say he wouldn’t regulate social media, that C-11 would only attack American web giants? »Reacted the conservative cultural spokeswoman Rachael Thomas.

“The government is currently setting up a podcast register [podcasts] » added his colleague from Ontario, Melissa Lantsman.

A Online petition on the Conservative Party website also posits that “the Trudeau Liberals are desperate to police and control speech” and that the latter “have now given themselves the power to control what Canadians can see and say online.” »

No Quebec Conservative elected official had commented on the news of the platforms’ registration requirement, which was first reported by the daily National Post Friday when these lines were written. None of them were available to answer the questions Duty Monday.

Disconnected from reality

On the contrary, the regulation regarding the registration of platforms is neither surprising nor unusual, says Pierre Trudel, professor of communications law at the University of Montreal and an employee at Duty. He calls the CRTC’s appeal a “mere formality”

“I think we’re really completely disconnected from reality,” he said of fears about free speech. According to Pierre Trudel, it is clear that federal law is not intended to control what internet users see or post on social media.

“As a teacher, when a student writes this to me [l’analyse de Pierre Poilievre sur le récent règlement du CRTC], I put a big zero. You really don’t have to be able to read to say something so pathetic. »

The Liberal government received the support of the Bloc Québécois and the New Democratic Party for its project to reform the broadcasting law with the aim of imposing certain rules on online broadcasters, such as how to pay for and rate Canadian content.

The bill was intended to primarily apply to platforms such as Netflix or Disney+, but sparked controversy by including certain social media platforms such as YouTube.

The law only targets films, television series and music, but not YouTubers and other amateur videographers, the Liberal government assures. However, this clarification must be made by regulation after an extensive and complex consultation process. which runs until the end of 2024.

In the meantime, the CRTC wants to gather information about the major platforms that could be subject to regulation, which is why the call for registration was launched on Friday. This data is intended to allow it to better understand the ecosystem before drafting regulations on it.

It is now Minister Pascale St-Onge who must lead this reform, having inherited the portfolio following a dramatic reshuffle of the Trudeau Cabinet this summer.

To watch in the video