Speech with Consequence: A Moral Case for Holding Platforms Accountable Under Bill C-63

In Canada, social media platforms have become indispensable forums for the public to interact, though they also magnify hate speech, harassment, and cyberbullying on a dangerous scale. In response, the Canadian government proposed Bill C‑63, the Online Harms Act. This bill would legally require platforms to remove harmful content, including non‑consensual intimate images (revenge pornography), hate speech targeting marginalized groups, and harassment such as cyberbullying of minors (Department of Justice Canada). Some Canadians argue that these imposed responsibilities threaten free…