C-22 3 40 59-60 Elizabeth II 2010-2011

An Act respecting the mandatory reporting of Internet child pornography by persons who provide an Internet service

An Act respecting the mandatory reporting of Internet child pornography by persons who provide an Internet service

Mandatory Reporting of Internet Child Pornography by Persons who Provide an Internet Service 2011 3 23 4 2011 90543

SUMMARY

This enactment imposes reporting duties on persons who provide an Internet service to the public if they are advised of an Internet address where child pornography may be available to the public or if they have reasonable grounds to believe that their Internet service is being or has been used to commit a child pornography offence. This enactment makes it an offence to fail to comply with the reporting duties.

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

INTERPRETATION

Definitions

(1) The following

definitions apply in this Act.

child pornography

pornographie juvénile

child pornography has the same meaning as in subsection 163.1(1) of the Criminal Code .

child pornography offence

infraction relative à la pornographie juvénile

child pornography offence means an offence under any of the following provisions of the Criminal Code :

(

a) subsection 163.1(2) (making child pornography);

(

b) subsection 163.1(3) (distribution, etc., of child pornography);

(

c) subsection 163.1(4) (possession of child pornography); or

(

d) subsection 163.1(4.1) (accessing child pornography).

computer data

données informatiques

computer data means representations, including signs, signals or symbols, that are in a form suitable for processing in a computer system.

Internet Service

services Internet

Internet Service means a service providing Internet access, Internet content hosting or electronic mail.

person

personne

person means an individual, a corporation, a partnership or an unincorporated association or organization.

Description with cross-reference

(2) The descriptive words in parentheses that follow the reference to a provision of the Criminal Code in the definition child pornography offence in subsection (1) do not form part of that definition but are inserted for convenience of reference only.

DUTIES

Duty to report Internet address

If a person is advised, in the course of providing an Internet service to the public, of an Internet Protocol address or a Uniform Resource Locator where child pornography may be available to the public, the person must report that address or Uniform Resource Locator to the organization designated by the regulations, as soon as feasible and in accordance with the regulations.

Duty to notify police officer

If a person who provides an Internet service to the public has reasonable grounds to believe that their Internet service is being or has been used to commit a child pornography offence, the person must notify an officer, constable or other person employed for the preservation and maintenance of the public peace of that fact, as soon as feasible and in accordance with the regulations.

Preservation of computer data

(1) A person who makes a notification under

section 3 must preserve all computer data related to the notification that is in their possession or control for 21 days after the day on which the notification is made.

Destruction of preserved computer data

(2) The person must destroy the computer data that would not be retained in the ordinary course of business and any document that is prepared for the purpose of preserving computer data under subsection (1) as soon as feasible after the expiry of the 21-day period, unless the person is required to preserve the computer data by a judicial order made under any other Act of Parliament or the legislature of a province.

No disclosure

A person must not disclose that they have made a report under

section 2 or a notification under

section 3, or disclose the contents of a report or notification, if the disclosure could prejudice a criminal investigation, whether or not a criminal investigation has begun.

No seeking out of child pornography

Nothing in this Act requires or authorizes a person to seek out child pornography.

Immunity

A civil proceeding cannot be commenced against a person for making a report in good faith under

section 2 or for making a notification in good faith under

section 3.

Self-incrimination

For greater certainty, nothing in this Act affects any right of a person to be protected against self-incrimination.

Provincial or foreign jurisdiction

A person who has reported information in compliance with an obligation to report child pornography under the laws of a province or a foreign jurisdiction is deemed to have complied with

section 2 of this Act in relation to that information.

OFFENCES AND PUNISHMENT

Offence

Every person who knowingly contravenes any of sections 2 to 5 is guilty of an offence and liable on

summary conviction,

(

a) in the case of an individual,

(

i) for a first offence, to a fine of not more than $1,000,

(ii)

for a second offence, to a fine of not more than $5,000, and

(iii)

for each subsequent offence, to a fine of not more than $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than six months, or to both; and

(

b) in all other cases,

(

i) for a first offence, to a fine of not more than $10,000,

(ii)

for a second offence, to a fine of not more than $50,000, and

(iii)

for each subsequent offence, to a fine of not more than $100,000.

Limitation period

A prosecution for an offence under this Act cannot be commenced more than two years after the time when the act or omission giving rise to the prosecution occurred.

REGULATIONS

Regulations

The Governor in Council may make regulations

(

a) designating an organization for the purpose of

section 2;

(

b) respecting the role, functions and activities of the designated organization in relation to information received under this Act, including any security measures to be taken;

(

c) respecting the making of a report under

section 2;

(

d) respecting a notification under

section 3;

(

e) respecting security measures to be taken in relation to computer data preserved under

section 4; and

(

f) generally, for carrying out the purposes and provisions of this Act.

COMING INTO FORCE

Order in council

This Act comes into force on a day to be fixed by order of the Governor in Council.