Social media giants already liable for illegal content in Canada, says report

TORONTO — A new research report released today by industry watchdog Friends of Canadian Broadcasting argues social media companies such as Facebook and YouTube are liable for any harmful or illegal content appearing on their platforms, just like any other publisher. The report, Platform for Harm, builds on a legal analysis provided by libel defence lawyer and free speech advocate Mark Donald, says FCB. According to the report, social media companies are already publishers in the eyes of Canadian law, and therefore legally liable for user-generated content if they know the content is harmful and publish it anyway or if...