Security vs Privacy: The modern digital age

Talking with some family a couple of weeks back they seem frustrated with Canada's Bill 63. This bill is an Act to enact the Online Harms Act. The idea behind the Online Harms Act is to prevent harmful content.

Source:

Harmful Content means;

• intimate content communicated without consent;
• content that sexually victimizes a child or revictimizes a survivor;
• content that induces a child to harm themselves;
• content used to bully a child;
• content that foments hatred;
• content that incites violence; and
• content that incites violent extremism or terrorism.‍ (contenu préjudiciable)

Most would agree that people participating in those harmful acts should be held accountable for their actions. But the part that scares my family is "content that foments hatred". The toughest part about this is understanding how hatred is defined. Could this be used against you for criticizing the government? That is what they are afraid of.

Chat GPT's explanation on the age-old debate of Security vs Privacy:

The age-old debate of security vs. privacy revolves around the tension between protecting individuals' privacy rights and ensuring security measures to safeguard against threats. On one hand, proponents of security argue that it's essential to implement measures such as surveillance, data collection, and monitoring to prevent and respond to security threats such as terrorism, cyberattacks, and crime. They believe that sacrificing some degree of privacy is necessary for the greater good of protecting society.

On the other hand, proponents of privacy argue that individuals have a fundamental right to privacy and that excessive surveillance and invasive security measures can infringe upon this right. They contend that overly intrusive security measures can lead to violations of civil liberties, erosion of trust in institutions, and potential misuse of collected data for purposes beyond security.

This debate is particularly relevant in the digital age, where advancements in technology enable extensive data collection and surveillance capabilities. Issues such as government surveillance programs, data breaches, encryption, and online privacy policies often fuel discussions around where to draw the line between security and privacy.

Finding the right balance between security and privacy is challenging, as both are essential for a functioning society. It requires thoughtful consideration of factors such as legal frameworks, technological capabilities, ethical principles, and societal values.

My thoughts on Security vs Privacy and Bill 63:

Like many political issues, there isn't always a simple answer. Do I want to live in a world where people can hurt others online? Of course not! This is the trade-off. Years ago I remember hearing a horrible story of a teenage girl named Amanda Todd who committed suicide because of online bullying. To me thinking that this can happen is discussing, saddening, and somehow I feel there could of been a way to prevent this.

The answer to prevention is having better rules in place to make people hopefully think and recognize what they are doing online. In maybe a foolish way, I like to think that if there are harsher penalties, the attacker might ask themselves; is what I am doing wrong?