Canadian Members of Parliament have voted to advance a significant piece of legislation aimed at curbing sexual exploitation online. On May 8, the House of Commons voted 327-0 in favor of the Stopping Internet Sexual Exploitation (SISE) Act, also known as Bill C-270. This bill, introduced by Peace River – Westlock MP Arnold Viersen, seeks to ensure that makers and distributors of explicit online material verify the age and consent of all individuals depicted.

Bill C-270 aims to keep images of underage children and non-consenting adults out of commercial internet pornography. A law already in place in the United States. The proposed Canadian law requires creators to maintain records verifying the ages and informed consent of everyone featured in their content. The bill shifts the burden of proof from individuals and law enforcement to the creators and distributors of explicit material.

“For years, pornographic platforms in Canada have published sexually explicit material without any requirement to verify the age or consent of those depicted in them,” Viersen said. “As a result, horrific videos of sex trafficking, child exploitation, and sexual assault have proliferated on Canadian pornography websites. Many of these videos have been monetized, bringing in massive profits.”

The bill now moves to the Justice Committee for further review. If passed, creators and distributors found in violation of this legislation could face significant penalties, including up to two years in prison, fines of up to $500,000, or both for indictable offenses. Summary offenses could result in fines up to $100,000.

Liberal MP James Maloney, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, spoke during the May 7 deliberations. While he acknowledged some reservations about the bill, he expressed support for its goal. “This conduct has caused those depicted in that material extreme suffering,” Maloney said. “We must do everything we can to protect those who have been subjected to this trauma and prevent it from occurring in the first place.”

The origins of the SISE Act trace back to public advocacy efforts by Viersen and other MPs, spurred by a New York Times article highlighting underage children featured on MindGeek sites, a Montreal-based online pornography conglomerate now known as Aylo. The revelations led to a House of Commons ethics committee review, where Viersen heard testimony from young women impacted by unethical and illegal digital porn practices.

“Imagine being the parent of a teenager who has been missing for months and discovering 50 explicit videos of that daughter being sexually abused on Pornhub, the most popular porn site in the world,” Viersen told the House of Commons during an April 9 session. “How would someone feel if Pornhub’s only response was an auto-reply email? Understandably, one would be outraged. One would be furious, yet this happens over and over.”

Bill C-270 is designed to address such egregious violations by imposing stringent record-keeping requirements on producers of explicit content. The bill mandates that anyone depicted in pornographic material must be at least 18 years old and have provided affirmative consent. It also allows government agencies to create regulations for obtaining and retaining these records.

“For years, pornographic platforms in Canada have published sexually explicit material without any requirement to verify the age or consent of those depicted in them,” Viersen reiterated in a local news report. Many Canadian adult platforms have relied on U.S. legal standards for record-keeping, particularly the requirements set by Title 18 U.S. Code 2257. However, Canada lacks a specific statute addressing these issues, making Bill C-270 a crucial legislative addition.

As the bill advances, it is clear that there is broad support for measures to protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation. Despite Viersen’s known conservative views, including his public opposition to Roe v. Wade and his association with far-right groups, the SISE Act is seen as a necessary step in ensuring accountability within the adult entertainment industry.

Following the Justice Committee’s review, Bill C-270 will proceed to the reporting stage, where MPs can propose amendments. If successful, it will return to the House of Commons for a third reading before potentially moving to the Senate for final approval. The unanimous vote at the second reading underscores the importance and urgency of protecting individuals from exploitation.