Ottawa says the amended definitions of hate speech under the new Online Harms Bill would set a “high bar” when determining whether online content counts as hate speech, emphasizing that offensive speech or criticisms of the government alone would not meet the threshold.
“The concept of hatred would not include mere dislike or disdain, or acts that merely offend or humiliate, nor would it cover political dissent,” a government official said during a technical briefing on March 6.
