VIRANI’S MOMENT — The Online Harms Act is the first major test for Justice Minister ARIF VIRANI, a rookie Cabinet minister who ascended to the high-profile role in July after DAVID LAMETTI was shuffled out. Virani was sworn in as minister of state (online harms) last week to supercharge his efforts to get the long-awaited bill through Parliament. And when the federal government debuted its online harms bill Monday, Virani gave the microphone first to a mother who shared shocking stories about how her child became a sexual abuse victim — and the additional trauma done to families by laws with no teeth. The mother, identified as Jane, said images of her daughter’s sexual assault as a toddler continue to be exploited online. “Those individuals that possess her child sexual abuse products should be held accountable and take full moral responsibility,” she said. The material will always be somewhere in existence, the mother said. “The evolution of technology is her nemesis.” — Minority groups join together: The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs’ RICHARD MARCEAU was at Virani’s side when the federal justice minister spoke to the bill. “Part of the solution lies in diminishing the level of Jew-hatred online because what happens online does not stay online,” Marceau said in a statement. “It affects our community, our children, in real life.” — Political battle lines: Conservative Leader PIERRE POILIEVRE, who has enjoyed a healthy lead over Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU in the polls, cornered himself last week by vowing opposition to the long-awaited bill, sight unseen, before it was even out. He said the bill is the government’s “latest attack on freedom of expression” and framed it as a Liberal tool to suppress critics — a point Virani addressed during his press conference. “It does not undermine freedom of speech,” Virani said. “It enhances free expression by empowering all people to safely participate in all online debate.” The government touts the law as one that will protect children — rather than target social media platforms. — What it actually covers: The bill covers social media, live streaming and user-uploaded adult content. Private and encrypted messaging services will be excluded. The proposed Online Harms Act covers seven categories under its definition of “harmful content.” — New frontier: The law notably makes an attempt to crack down on hate crimes. — Spotted: A section in the legislation that defines what constitutes a hate crime — opening the door to the possibility of more incidents being reported to and tracked by police. According to the act, “harmful content” includes the following: Intimate content communicated without consent; content that sexually victimizes a child or revictimizes a survivor; content that induces a child to harm themselves; content used to bully a child; content that foments hatred; content that incites violence; and content that incites violent extremism or terrorism. The provision was applauded by the National Council of Canadian Muslims. “For years, we saw many of those who attacked our brothers and sisters in the streets skate by without charges after engaging in horrendous acts of Islamophobia,” the civil liberties organization said. — Recommended read: uOttawa law prof MICHAEL GEIST considers the “three-in-one” bill in a blog post that says the government needs to explain its plans for a digital safety commission “which has the feel of a new CRTC funded by the tech companies.” — More reaction: The Canadian Race Relations Foundation offered initial thumbs up on the bill for introducing a Criminal Code offense for hate crimes, which it defines, fixing a legal loophole. | 
