OTTAWA — An expert panel tasked with helping to shape a federal bill to curb online hate suggests it cover Airbnb, the vacation rental booking site, as well as video games and even private communications online.
The advisory panel believes a future online hate law should have a broad scope covering not just Twitter and Facebook but smaller online platforms, including crowdfunding apps, according to reports of their discussions posted online.
Many experts on the panel also supported bringing private online conversations “under the scope of the legislative framework.”
The Liberal government has said it wants to bring in an online hate bill so that harmful content, such as racist and antisemitic abuse online, is swiftly removed by platforms.
Earlier this year, Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez appointed the expert advisory group on online safety to provide counsel on a framework for such a law.
In discussion papers for the group, the Heritage Department indicated it is not inclined to regulate services such as Uber, Airbnb and Peloton. The department suggested they be “excluded … as their primary purpose is not to enable communication between persons per se, but to arrange transportation, or rent accommodations, or participate in fitness classes.”
Many experts on the panel suggested a wider reach, however, and wanted to “incorporate all entities that communicate online.” Some said there is “justification to look more widely” including “some interactive services like Airbnb and gaming platforms,” records of their meetings show.
A few expert advisers added that “it would be hard to assert generalized obligations to act responsibly on some platforms (e.g., social media companies) but not others who operate on the same level of the tech stack (e.g., Airbnb, video-gaming platforms).”
The report of their meetings said some panel members thought “a broad definition would help address evolving/emerging technologies to help future-proof the legislation.”
It said members “highlighted that a lot of times a high level of harmful content, such as terrorist content or child pornography are shared in private communications instead of on public forums — and that excluding these types of communications would leave a lot of harmful content on the table.”
Airbnb, based in San Francisco, said communications on its platform are between people booking lodgings and landlords, such as asking questions about whether dogs are allowed.
It said it has an extensive and strict anti-discrimination policy and delists people who do not adhere to it, as well as those linked to extremist groups.
A spokesman for Airbnb said the site has banned the accounts of dozens of users with links to white nationalist groups, including those identified as members of Iron March, a neo-Nazi forum, following disclosure of the forum’s membership.
“Discrimination of any kind — including bias, prejudice and racism — have no place on our platform or in our community in Canada and around the world, and we have strong policies in place on these issues that align with our inclusive values,” said Nathan Rotman, of Airbnb Canada.
“According to the government, this bill is meant to regulate social media platforms, not platforms like Airbnb.”
In the United States, Harvard Business School researchers exploring racial discrimination at Airbnb found that applications from guests with distinctly African-American names were about 16 per cent less likely to be accepted than guests with distinctly white names.
Bernie Farber, who is chair of the Canadian Anti-Hate Network and a member of the 12-person panel, said Airbnb should fall within the scope of the regulations aimed at curbing online hate, because discussions take place on its platform.
The government also asked its advisory panel to consider how deep the law should go.
“Should top layer interactive services that are not social media platforms — like, video-gaming platforms and streamers, or crowdfunding platforms — also be included?” said government papers giving topics for their deliberations.
Some panel members said a broader scope would include entities that are successful in the recruitment of violent extremists who adapt quickly “and have been moving to video game services, file sharing sites, and live audio applications.”
Laura Scaffidi, a spokeswoman for Rodriguez, said “the expert advisory group on online safety is mandated to provide the government with advice on how to address harmful content online” and noted the 12 people on the panel have a “broad range” of views and experience.
“We look forward to the group’s continued work and final summary,” she added.
“We are going to take the time we need to get this right.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 11, 2022.
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — The Miami Dolphins will bring in another quarterback while starter Tua Tagovailoa deals with his latest concussion, coach Mike McDaniel said Friday.
For now, Skylar Thompson will be considered the Dolphins’ starter while Tagovailoa is sidelined. Tagovailoa left Thursday night’s 31-10 loss to Buffalo in the third quarter with the third known concussion of his NFL career, all of them coming in the last 24 months.
“The team and the organization are very confident in Skylar,” McDaniel said.
McDaniel said the team has not made any decision about whether to place Tagovailoa on injured reserve. Tagovailoa was expected at the team facility on Friday to start the process of being evaluated in earnest.
“We just have to operate in the unknown and be prepared for every situation,” McDaniel said, noting that the only opinions that will matter to the team will be the ones from Tagovailoa and the medical staff.
McDaniel added that he doesn’t see Tagovailoa playing in Miami’s next game at Seattle on Sept. 22.
“I have no idea and I’m not going to all of a sudden start making decisions that I don’t even see myself involved in the most important parts of,” McDaniel added. “All I’m telling Tua is everyone is counting on you to be a dad and be a dad this weekend. And then we’ll move from there. There won’t be any talk about where we’re going in that regard … none of that will happen without doctors’ expertise and the actual player.”
Tagovailoa was 17 for 25 passing for 145 yards, with one touchdown and three interceptions — one of which was returned for a Buffalo score — when he got hurt. Thompson completed eight of 14 passes for 80 yards.
Thompson said he feels “fully equipped” to run the Dolphins’ offense.
“What’s going to lie ahead, who knows, but man, I’m confident, though,” Thompson said after Thursday’s game. “I feel like I’m ready for whatever’s to come. I’m going to prepare and work hard and do everything I can to lead this team and do my job.”
TORONTO – Unifor says workers at a Walmart warehouse in Mississauga, Ont., have voted to join the union.
The union says it’s Walmart’s first warehouse to unionize in Canada.
Unifor national president Lana Payne says the employees stood up for their rights and the union is excited to get to work on their first collective agreement.
Unifor’s campaign at Walmart’s facility began in December 2023.
The vote was held from Sept. 10 to 12.
Unifor represents 315,000 workers across the country.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
The Canadian government says it will donate up to 200,000 vaccine doses to fight the mpox outbreak in Congo and other African countries.
It says the donated doses of Imvamune will come from Canada’s existing supply and will not affect the country’s preparedness for mpox cases in this country.
Minister of Health Mark Holland says the donation “will help to protect those in the most affected regions of Africa and will help prevent further spread of the virus.”
Dr. Madhukar Pai, Canada research chair in epidemiology and global health, says although the donation is welcome, it is a very small portion of the estimated 10 million vaccine doses needed to control the outbreak.
Vaccine donations from wealthier countries have only recently started arriving in Africa, almost a month after the World Health Organization declared the mpox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.
A few days after the declaration in August, Global Affairs Canada announced a contribution of $1 million for mpox surveillance, diagnostic tools, research and community awareness in Africa.
On Thursday, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said mpox is still on the rise and that testing rates are “insufficient” across the continent.
Jason Kindrachuk, Canada research chair in emerging viruses at the University of Manitoba, said donating vaccines, in addition to supporting surveillance and diagnostic tests, is “massively important.”
But Kindrachuk, who has worked on the ground in Congo during the epidemic, also said that the international response to the mpox outbreak is “better late than never (but) better never late.”
“It would have been fantastic for us globally to not be in this position by having provided doses a much, much longer time prior than when we are,” he said, noting that the outbreak of clade I mpox in Congo started in early 2023.
Clade II mpox, endemic in regions of West Africa, came to the world’s attention even earlier — in 2022 — as that strain of virus spread to other countries, including Canada.
Two doses are recommended for mpox vaccination, so the donation may only benefit 100,000 people, Pai said.
Pai questioned whether Canada is contributing enough, as the federal government hasn’t said what percentage of its mpox vaccine stockpile it is donating.
“Small donations are simply not going to help end this crisis. We need to show greater solidarity and support,” he said in an email.
“That is the biggest lesson from the COVID-19 pandemic — our collective safety is tied with that of other nations.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
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