OTTAWA, May 6, 2010 – The Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Niagara Falls, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and the Honourable Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu, Senator, today announced the introduction of legislation to help protect children from online sexual exploitation, by requiring suppliers of Internet services to report online child pornography.
"A mandatory reporting regime across Canada will assist authorities in identifying offenders and rescuing children from sexual exploitation," said Minister Nicholson. "Creating and distributing child pornography are unspeakable crimes and our government is committed to protecting children from Internet sexual predators."
In September 2008, the federal/provincial/territorial ministers responsible for Justice agreed that Canada's response to child pornography could be enhanced by federal legislation establishing mandatory reporting of online child pornography by providers of Internet services.
The proposed legislation would apply to suppliers of Internet services to the public, including those who provide electronic mail services, internet content hosting services, and social networking sites. It would require them to:
- Report, to a designated agency, tips they receive regarding Web sites where child pornography may be available to the public; and,
- Notify police and safeguard evidence if they believe that a child pornography offence has been committed using an Internet service that they provide.
Failure to comply with the duties under the legislation would constitute an offence punishable by graduated fines. For individuals (sole proprietorships), the maximum penalty would be a fine of $1,000 for a first offence; $5,000 for a second offence; and for third and subsequent offences $10,000 or six months' imprisonment, or both. For corporations and other entities, the maximum fines would be $10,000 for a first offence; $50,000 for a second offence; and $100,000 for third and subsequent offences.
"In today's technological environment, it is important that law enforcement and the Internet service industry work together to help protect our children," said Senator Boisvenu. "The proposed reporting regime would support this collaboration and better protect children from online sexual exploitation."
Backgrounder: Protecting children from online sexual exploitation
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Ref.:
Pamela Stephens
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Justice
613-992-4621
Media Relations
Department of Justice
613-957-4207
