By Canadian Press

MPs want big tech held responsible for misinformation spread online by foreign actors

Oct 24, 2023 | 12:30 PM

OTTAWA — A parliamentary committee is calling on Canada to hold tech giants accountable for publishing false or misleading information online, especially when it is spread by foreign actors. 

That was among 22 recommendations the House ethics committee made in its study of foreign interference by China and Russia.

Bloc Québécois MP and committee vice-chair René Villemure says Canada needs to take a firm position on this similar to the European Union, which has a digital misinformation law that curbs hate speech and propaganda.

The federal Conservatives were the only party to disagree with that recommendation, saying it will endorse censorship online. 

But Villemure says holding social media companies such as Meta and Google accountable has nothing to do with freedom of expression. 

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The committee began its study in 2022 before public allegations that China tried to meddle in the last two federal elections. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 24, 2023.

The Canadian Press