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Opinion pieces

2018: Inaugural Issue

Injury and Mischief versus the Public Interest: Commentary on "Spreading False News"

Submitted
November 28, 2018
Published
2018-12-17

Abstract

The following commentary outlines Canada’s legal history of the “Spreading False News” law that is currently under parliamentary review in Bill C-39. I discuss the legal cases that have led to the Supreme Court of Canada decision that the law is unconstitutional, contrary to the fundamental freedom of expression. I also review the components involved in prosecuting spreading false news and discuss whether these components are always inconsistent with the right to freedom of expression.