Open Letter to Federal Party Leaders: Commit to Online Safety Legislation

Alongside more than 50 organisations from across health, education, civil society, philanthropy, academia, and tech policy, 5Rights has signed on to a letter calling on all parties to prioritise children’s online safety in their electoral platforms, in preparation for the upcoming Canadian election.

Our address to party leaders makes the case:

• These issues are well documented.
• System design choices are putting children in danger by manipulating attention and behaviour.
• Social media companies lack accountability with business practices having limited oversight.
• Canada is falling behind its peers in ensuring the protection of children online.
• Moving forward, the next Parliament must present a new comprehensive tech accountability bill that values and enshrines risk-mitigation and transparency.

Then, asking party leaders, if they agree, to make online safety a tenet of their electoral platform.