‘Sketchy’ sites don’t need Canadians’ information, Trudeau says on porn bill

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he doesn’t support the idea of “digital ID” or needing Canadians to give “their personal information to sketchy websites” amid questions about a controversial Senate bill to require age verification on porn websites.

He also accused Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of “spreading lies” about the yet-to-be-introduced online harms bill, the contents of which are not yet clear because it hasn’t been tabled.

“The fact that Pierre Poilievre and the Conservatives, without reading the legislation, without knowing what’s in the legislation, are not just opposing it but spreading lies about it is concerning,” Trudeau said at a housing announcement in Membertou First Nation on Cape Breton Island, N.S.

“(Poilievre is) proposing that adults should instead have to give their ID and their personal information to sketchy websites, or create a digital ID, for adults to be able to browse the web where they want, where they want to,” he added.

“That’s something that we stand against and disagree with. We think we need to responsibly protect kids. But we need to do it in a way, that is acceptable to all Canadians.”

Two separate pieces of internet-based legislation appear to be referenced in the prime minister’s comments.

One is the long-promised online harms bill, which Trudeau says will aim to protect children from cyberbullying and sexual exploitation, as well as safeguard their mental health.

The upcoming legislation is also expected to pave the way for a new ombudsperson to field public concerns about online content, as well as a new regulatory role that would oversee the conduct of internet platforms.

On Wednesday, Trudeau said the legislation will be introduced “next week.” On Thursday, he said it would