The Liberal government’s bill targeting hate crimes is not meant to regulate the internet, but it would apply to some online content that involves the “wilful promotion of hatred,” according to Justice Minister Sean Fraser.
“Generally speaking, the law will apply equally online as it does in real communities… just in the limited circumstances where there is the wilful promotion of hatred against someone,” Fraser told the House of Commons justice committee on Oct. 9, as first covered by Blacklock’s Reporter.
Bill C-9, also known as An Act To Amend The Criminal Code, would make it a crime to intimidate or obstruct people from attending places of worship, schools, and other public spaces associated with an identifiable group, as well as make hate-motivated crime a specific offence. The bill would also criminalize the wilful promotion of hatred against an identifiable group by publicly displaying certain terrorism or hate symbols, such as Nazi, Hamas, or Hezbollah flags….