Bill C-292

Online Algorithm Transparency Act

An Act respecting transparency for online algorithms

Sponsor

Introduced as a private member’s bill. (These don’t often become law.)

Status

Outside the Order of Precedence (a private member's bill that hasn't yet won the draw that determines which private member's bills can be debated), as of June 17, 2022

Subscribe to a feed (what's a feed?) of speeches and votes in the House related to Bill C-292.

Summary

This is from the published bill.

The purpose of this enactment is to ensure that online communication service providers do not use algorithms that use personal information in a manner that results in the adverse differential treatment of any individual or group of individuals based on one or more prohibited grounds of discrimination or on any other grounds.

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from the Library of Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.

Bill numbers are reused for different bills each new session. Perhaps you were looking for one of these other C-292s:

C-292 (2021) Canadian Armed Forces Members Day Act

C-292 (2016) An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code (occupational disease and accident registry)

C-292 (2013) An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (victims' restitution and monetary awards for offenders)

C-292 (2011) An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (victims' restitution and monetary awards for offenders)

C-292 (2010) An Act to change the name of the electoral district of New Westminster—Coquitlam

C-292 (2009) An Act to change the name of the electoral district of New Westminster—Coquitlam

1^st reading

Online Algorithm Transparency ActRoutine Proceedings

June 17th, 2022 / 12:15 p.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-292, An Act respecting transparency for online algorithms.

Madam Speaker, with thanks to my seconder, the member for Hamilton Centre, today I am tabling an important bill, Bill C-292, an act respecting transparency for online algorithms.

The purpose of this bill is to ensure that online platforms do not use algorithms and personal information to discriminate against anyone. This legislation is particularly timely, because as we have seen during this pandemic, there has been an unprecedented rise in online hate, disinformation and right-wing extremism.

For years, online platforms have been using algorithms to discriminate, to make predictions or decisions about a user and to direct information by amplifying or promoting content to that user. The online algorithm transparency act would require transparency and accountability in all algorithms that are used.

Other jurisdictions, such as the United Kingdom, the European Union and New Zealand, are looking at implementing similar legislation. Of course, Senator Ed Markey has sponsored a landmark bill in the U.S. Senate. Anti-hate organizations are also calling for algorithm transparency.

I urge all members of Parliament to support this important legislation.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)