Should Canada Require Age Verification for Online Pornography?
Official title: Bill S-209, An Act to restrict young persons’ online access to pornographic material
A Senate bill wants to make websites verify users' ages before showing pornographic content. The goal is to protect children from accessing harmful material online. The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs is now studying the bill and hearing from experts.
Why This Matters
Got kids with smartphones or tablets? This bill could change how they access the internet. Right now, most porn sites only ask users to click a button saying they're 18. Parents worried about what their children see online should pay attention.
What Could Change
Porn websites operating in Canada could be forced to implement real age verification systems. That might mean ID checks, credit card verification, or other proof-of-age methods. Sites that don't comply could face penalties or be blocked.
Key Issues
- What age verification methods should websites be required to use?
- How can children be protected while respecting adult privacy?
- What penalties should apply to non-compliant websites?
How to Participate
- Read the text of Bill S-209 to understand what's being proposed.
- Follow the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs to see upcoming meetings and witness testimony.
- Contact the committee or your Senator to share your views on the bill.