The federal government has introduced legislation to lead the fight against sexual exploitation of children by requiring suppliers of Internet services to report Internet child pornography.

The sexual abuse of Canada’s children is an atrocious crime that our government will do everything it can to diminish. Our children are a precious link with the future and we vow to protect them with legislation that works.

Canada’s Minister of Justice Rob Nicholson put it this way when he introduced the new Bill C-58: “The creation and distribution of child pornography are appalling crimes in which children are brutally victimized over and over again. A mandatory reporting regime across Canada will strengthen our ability to protect our children from sexual predators and help police rescue these young victims, and prosecute the criminals responsible.”

The legislation places the onus on anyone who knowingly transmits child pornography via the Internet. Unfortunately, the Internet is a haven for child predators and pornographers, and Canada is one of the leading countries in the world for delivering this type of material. In addition to Internet service providers, the legislation applies to all persons who provide electronic mail services, Internet content hosting services and social networking sites.

Internet personnel will be required to report any tips they receive regarding web sites where child pornography may be available to the public. They will also have to 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 could lead to graduated fines from $1,000 for first time offenders and up to $100,000 for repeat violators.

In June 2009, the government also introduced Bill C-46, the Investigative Powers for the 21st Century Act and Bill C-47, the Technical Assistance for Law Enforcement in the 21st Century Act. These proposed bills would help ensure that law enforcement and national security agencies have the additional tools they need to fight crimes such as child pornography in today's high-tech environment.

Federal, provincial and territorial ministers agreed in September 2008 that child pornography could be reduced by federal legislation that requires Internet service personnel to report suspected material. The Criminal Code already prohibits all forms of making, distributing, making available, accessing and possessing child pornography, including through the use of the Internet. This new bill puts content providers on notice to join us in the battle against child pornography.

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