(Ottawa) New Democrats will not make their position known on a bill aimed at preventing minors from accessing sexually explicit content online.
The bill proposes to require websites like Pornhub to verify the age of their users. Privacy experts warn that the measure is overly broad and risks violating free speech.
The Liberal government opposes the private member’s bill, but the New Democratic Party (NDP), the Bloc Québécois and the Conservatives voted in favor of sending it to a House of Commons committee for study.
The committee only heard from three witnesses, including the senator who proposed the bill, which the NDP attributes to the Conservatives.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau criticized Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre for saying a Conservative government would adopt a similar measure, saying it would mean Canadians would have to hand over personal information to “dodgy websites.”
The bill would need NDP support to pass, and public safety critic Alistair MacGregor says his party will carefully consider its options.