Bill Detail
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (promotion of terrorist activity or group)
This enactment amends the Criminal Code to create an offence of wilfully promoting a terrorist activity or a terrorist group, or any activity of a terrorist group.
Bill C-257 proposes to create a new criminal offense of wilfully promoting a terrorist activity or a terrorist group. This means that if someone intentionally communicates statements that support or encourage terrorism or terrorist organizations, they could face serious charges. The bill aims to broaden the scope of what constitutes promoting terrorism, making it an indictable offense punishable by up to five years in prison.
This legislation would affect anyone who makes public statements that could be interpreted as promoting terrorism. However, it includes specific defenses for individuals who can prove their statements were true, expressed a good-faith religious opinion, were relevant to public interest and believed to be true, or were intended to point out and rectify harmful content. The goal is to deter individuals from actively supporting terrorist activities or groups through their communication.