Stopping Online Piracy Is Not Censorship

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is considering a proposal to stop online piracy. The proposal expands on successful efforts in other countries to address the growing problem of online piracy, while imposing extraordinary safeguards to protect users’ digital rights. In short, it is a balanced and pragmatic attempt to address online piracy that has garnered support from a diverse group of stakeholders, including broadcasters, distributors, media companies, Internet service providers (ISPs), and artists in the film, TV, and music industries. Yet for some of the most extreme digital activists, any attempt at addressing copyright infringement, is a step too far. As ITIF’s Daniel Castro and Alan McQuinn write in The Hill Times, the agency should move swiftly to adopt measures to protect Canadian consumers, content makers, and distributors.