Community News
WE ARE NOT FREE – It is going to take the collective efforts of individuals, communities, and institutions to challenge the status quo
BY SIMONE J. SMITH
“It is a moment to reflect and to celebrate. A moment to reflect on all those who came before, all those who fought for freedom and all those who continue to inspire us every day to do more to stand up, to be better allies.” JUSTIN TRUDEAU – FREEDOM TRAIN RIDE (2023)
The Freedom Train Ride is a unique event that commemorates the abolition of slavery in the British Empire. Hosted by the Toronto Transit Commission, in support of Blackhurst Cultural Centre (formerly A Different Booklist Cultural Centre), it marks Emancipation Day, which in Canada is August 1st.
“It’s the Canadian fabric; the history,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. “Because those people that escaped America seeking freedom here have now become integral members of a society, of a community, of a country that has embraced these people and incorporated them into the day-to-day living and experience of Canada.”
Freedom!
I find it ironic that the man who has quite sinisterly stripped Canadians of our freedoms is found at a freedom event hosted by African Caribbean Canadians. I saw him taking pictures online with leaders in our community, and it made me wonder, are we aware that after all of these years, our government is still bamboozling us, using verbiage, and photo ops as distractions, all the while stripping us of the freedoms that they say that they are protecting?
On May 3rd, 2021, Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau issued the following statement on World Press Freedom Day:
“Today, on World Press Freedom Day, we celebrate the invaluable role that journalists play in Canada and around the world, and honour all those who have lost their lives in pursuit of the truth. We also rededicate ourselves to a fairer and more inclusive future where everyone, everywhere, is free to make their voices heard.
The theme of this year’s World Press Freedom Day is ‘Information as a Public Good’. It reminds us that quality, clear, and truthful information is essential for a democratic society based on the values of honesty and respect, fairness and justice, freedom and dignity.
On behalf of all Canadians, I thank journalists everywhere who give us the facts to make better sense of the world, contribute to our communities, and lead freer, richer lives. They are democracies’ first line of defense, and the cornerstone of any fair, strong, and vibrant society.”
Hmmmmm! Oh, really Prime Minister Trudeau. Now only a couple years later, we have Bill C-18 (Online News Act), which has been presented as a framework that would require digital giants such as Google and Meta to develop agreements with Canadian news sites to provide them with compensation for sharing their online news content through links or other means.
What it has done is officially end news availability in Canada. That is right; platforms like Toronto Caribbean Newspaper can no longer provide news about our people for our people on Google, Facebook, or Instagram. You can imagine my shock when I went on our news pages and saw that they had removed ALL of our content. I won’t lie, I was first outraged, and then overcome with anguish. As a paper, we have worked diligently delving deep into important issues and uncovering hidden truths. We have helped expose corruption, misconduct, and injustices that might have otherwise gone unnoticed.
Despite being blacklisted, ridiculed, and ostracized, we strive to provide balanced and objective coverage of various topics, and present different perspectives and viewpoints fairly. Our main objective: having our readers form opinions based on a well-rounded understanding of the issues.
We cover a wide range of topics, including local, national, and international news, which keeps our readers informed about events happening in their communities as well as significant developments around the world. We advocate for the public interest and work to hold those in power accountable.
Now, we have Liberal imposed Bill C-18 that has removed news for all Canadian users of its popular Facebook and Instagram platforms. In June, the company started running a test that limited news for up to five percent of users. That means Canadians will no longer be able to share or view news articles and other content posted by publishers and broadcasters, including international outlets.
News links to articles, reels — which are short-form videos — or stories, which are photos and videos that disappear after 24 hours, are also expected to be affected by the block.
The bill requires tech companies to compensate Canadian news organizations when their content appears on their platforms. The federal government says the bill is to help the Canadian news industry, which has seen falling subscriptions and ad revenue over time as those profits shift to Google and Facebook.
According to an Angus Reid report released in July, 85% of Canadians do not pay for any online news subscriptions and Canadians under the age of 64 usually check social media sites such as Facebook and Reddit first to get their news. The Parliamentary Budget Officer, which provides economic and financial analysis to the government as an independent body, estimates the bill would shift around $329 million to the Canadian news industry.
Supporters of the Liberal government’s bill say that it is a way to keep tech giants in check and cut into their digital dominance and that journalists should be compensated for their work being used to help tech giants bring in more eyes and thus more ad revenue.
How is any of this possibly constitutional? How does the entire Bill C-18 framework fit within the federal government’s authority? It isn’t broadcast, it isn’t telecommunications, and it isn’t copyright. If the government claims powers over anything involving the internet, then it believes there are no real limits on its power.
This should worry us!
I came across an article titled, “Internet Censorship 2023: A Global Map of Internet Restrictions,” and I found that internet censorship is happening worldwide, and to no surprise, even more so after the pandemic. The two countries at the top of the list were North Korea and China (no surprise there). There isn’t anything either of them doesn’t heavily censor thanks to their iron grip over the entire internet.
Citizens are unable to use western social media, watch porn, or use torrents or VPNs*. All of the political media published in the country is heavily censored and influenced by the government. Both countries also shut down messaging apps from abroad, forcing residents to use ones that have been made (and are likely controlled) within the country, e.g., WeChat in China. Not only does WeChat have no form of end-to-end encryption, but the app also has backdoors that enable third parties to access messages.
I want to remind everyone that our Prime Minister has openly expressed his admiration for China; is it any surprise that our country is starting to resemble the country that he holds in such high esteem?
The researchers compared the scores for countries from their 2021 study to their 2023 study; there are 27 countries that appear to have upped their censorship. Five countries have introduced more than one new censorship rule. Sri Lanka added three new means of censoring– these were the banning of torrents, restricting certain VPNs, and long blockages of social media due to protests in the country.
18 countries have banned or shut down torrenting sites. A further 25 European countries also have measures in place but aren’t blocking websites as of yet (Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia) to name a few.
What this makes me reflect on is the struggle for freedom of speech and civil rights, which has been a significant part of the history of African people in many parts of the world, especially in countries with a history of racial discrimination and systemic oppression. Throughout history, African individuals and communities have faced various forms of censorship, suppression, and violence when trying to exercise their right to freedom of speech and expression.
In the United States, for example, African Americans have had to overcome immense challenges to assert their right to speak out and advocate for their rights. During slavery, enslaved people were often prohibited from learning to read and write, and they faced severe punishments for attempting to communicate their experiences or ideas. Even after the abolition of slavery, Jim Crow laws and racial segregation continued to limit the ability of Black individuals to express themselves freely.
Throughout the Civil Rights Movement in the mid-20th century, African activists and leaders fought for equal rights, including the right to freedom of speech and expression. They organized protests, marches, and speeches to demand an end to racial segregation, voting discrimination, and other injustices. Many faced violent backlash and repression from authorities and white supremacist groups.
While progress has been made over time, challenges to freedom of speech for African individuals and communities persist in various forms, including online harassment, racial profiling, and attempts to silence voices advocating for racial justice and equality.
Yet here we are again. Bill C-18 is shamefully over-broad, an embarrassment to the news media lobby that demanded it, and unworthy of a government that sees itself as a model for the rest of the world on media freedoms.
When I spoke with members of the community, one provoking thought was clear; African creators are the lifeblood of many popular social networks. So why don’t we create our own?
As a community newspaper, we will continue to stand up against injustice, and direct attacks against our freedoms. We play a pivotal role in safeguarding human rights, promoting equality, and fostering positive social change. History has shown that positive social change is often driven by individuals and groups who are willing to confront and challenge injustice.
Holding individuals, institutions, and systems accountable for their actions is crucial for preventing further injustices. When people speak out against injustice, it sends a clear message that wrongdoing will not be tolerated, which will lead to increased accountability and improved behavior.
This requires the collective efforts of individuals, communities, and institutions to challenge the status quo, demand accountability, and work towards a more just and inclusive society.
WE ARE NOT FREE, and we need to know this. It is time to stand together, build together, and stop utilizing their platforms. Don’t worry community, Toronto Caribbean Newspaper is not going anywhere. There are loopholes with everything, and believe me when I say, we are going to find them and exploit them.
The revolution will not be televised!