Like many other readers of The PressI hope I was shaken by Tristan Péloquin’s recent investigation into the ravages of pornography1. However, I was not born yesterday. I am a mother of two young adults and I have been working for years on the issue of minors’ access to pornography, a project that has led me to watch a lot of porn content and go through several detailed reports on the subject.
And yet, Mr. Péloquin’s raw reports shook me. I discovered with horror the perverse effect (it is the case to say it) of the algorithms on the popularity of the violent and degrading contents. I was surprised to learn that pornography is virtually absent from sex education classes. I have read with skepticism the statements of porn producers who say they are open to limiting children’s access to pornography… as long as nothing hinders their industry.
A serious problem, simple solutions
The pervasiveness of pornography on the Internet is linked to multiple well-documented problems: addiction, difficulty forming romantic relationships, distorted stereotypes, unrealistic expectations, violent behaviors, low self-esteem, dangerous practices, distorted view of sexual relations , of which young women are often the first victims. Unfortunately, there is no single remedy for all these issues. But concrete and realistic solutions exist.
There is no question of banning adult access to pornography, but governments are not obliged to remain passive in the face of this public health crisis.
Therapy can help some people. Governments can run awareness campaigns. In addition, some porn producers themselves claim that their content is exclusively paid. If the government sets a minimum price for beer, should it also consider it for access to pornography?
Protect children
Its impact on adults will be debated for a long time, but one thing should be clear to all: pornography was never intended for children and minors should not have access to it. However, it is quite the opposite today.
Is it possible to tackle the problem effectively? Certainly. For several years, Germany has required porn sites to effectively verify the age of their users. France does the same. In a few weeks, England will follow suit. American states – including Louisiana and California – are also moving in this direction. Polls in Australia and England indicate that these measures have the support of 80% of the public.
In Canada, I introduced Bill S-210, which would require porn sites to verify the age of their users and block access to minors.
The bill does not rely on any particular method (Germany has approved almost 80), but it does ensure that the age verification techniques approved are effective and respect privacy.
Some worry that young people are circumventing these measures, thanks to VPNs and other technologies. No law is perfect, of course. But, as British expert John Carr explains: “It’s a practical myth that all young people are hyper-connected internet users who know all the technical stuff and are out to break all the rules and break all the obstacles. Studies show the opposite and suggest that, in fact, most young people do not know how to circumvent the majority of security measures and that, even among those who can, only a small percentage (6%) do so. »
Bill S-210 was passed by the Senate in April. It is now in the House of Commons, carried by Ontario MP Karen Vecchio.
A deafening silence in Quebec
Unfortunately, these issues – which are not partisan – arouse little interest in Quebec, even though we are home to MindGeek (operator of Pornhub), the largest online pornography company in the world. What do Liberal MPs Pablo Rodriguez, Steven Guilbeault, Mélanie Joly, Rachel Bendayan, Anthony Housefather, Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Jean-Yves Duclos and their leader Justin Trudeau think of Bill S-210? Will Bloc members Martin Champoux, Louise Chabot, Jean-Denis Garon, Marie-Hélène Gaudreau, Kristina Michaud, Marylène Gill and their leader Yves-François Blanchet support him? Have we heard the deputies Gérard Deltell, Pierre Paul-Hus and Dominique Vien promote it? Has Alexandre Boulerice taken a position?
Tristan Péloquin did his job. Multiple reports have detailed the issues and solutions. Other territories are taking action. The ball is now in the political court. Will our deputies, and they, have the courage to act to protect the physical, psychological and sexual health of our young people?