Canadian Government Begins Arresting Citizens at Home for Sharing Wrongthink Online
by Frank Bergman
Canadians are reportedly being arrested at their homes over social media posts written months or even years ago after Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government enacted a sweeping new “hate speech” law that dramatically expands the state’s power to prosecute online expression.
The alarming reports were revealed by the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF).
The JCCF says it has begun hearing from Canadians who have been visited at home by government officials and charged over historical online posts following the implementation of Bill C-9, the “Combating Hate Act.”
Many of those arrested now potentially face years in prison for sharing wrongthink on social media, even if the posts were made before the law came into force.
The legislation received royal assent on June 18 and officially took effect on July 18.
Civil liberties advocates warn the law marks one of the most aggressive crackdowns on free speech in Canada’s modern history.
Canadians Reportedly Targeted Over Years-Old Posts
The JCCF says people are now being visited at their homes by authorities over content they shared online long before the law came into force.
“We are receiving reports that some Canadians are being contacted at their homes by government officials about social media posts made months or even years ago,” the legal advocacy group said.
“These reports come after the passage of Bill C-9, the Combatting Hate Act, which expands Canada’s hate speech laws by creating new offences, increasing penalties, and removing certain legal safeguards that previously limited prosecutions for hate-related expression.”
The organization warned that the legislation significantly broadens the government’s ability to pursue criminal charges for speech it deems hateful.
New Law Expands ‘Hate Crime’ Powers