What is C-11? Canada’s Online Streaming Bill Explained

Canadians can choose which team to root for at the hockey game, but they won’t have much choice over what content they can watch online thanks to the country’s C-11 Bill. Citizens will feel a noticeable push toward Canadian content on streaming services and media platforms — the risk of losing access to unfiltered media is very real.

Widespread control over the amount of Canadian content on radio and television has existed for decades. The country even has a rating system to determine how Canadian content is, but why extend that reach to the online media and streaming services? Find out when we take an inside look at the purpose behind C-11, concerns about the bill, and the devastating effect it could have on content creators, companies, and Canadian citizens.

The Purpose of C-11

Officially, C-11 is another step in the Canadian government’s goal to encourage citizens to watch, listen to, and promote online media showcasing local artists over international artists. The Act requires streaming services and several other forms of online video platforms operating in Canada, to promote and recommend Canadian content to citizens who use the service. Streaming services should also promote and recommend content in both of Canada’s official languages, English and French, as well as Indigenous languages. 

This amendment to the Broadcasting Act gives the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) the authority to regulate streaming platforms — but there’s more. The CRTC’s authority also extends to services like YouTube, TikTok, Spotify, and other popular platforms. Essentially, the CRTC can force platforms to support and promote Canadian content to their viewers.

Promoting Canadian content is an admirable cause, but the level of control it gives the government over what content views can watch is alarming to tech giants, video services, and online freedom advocates.

Why C-11 Is Controversial

Canadians have major concerns about how C-11 will change the way they view and use streaming services and other media platforms like YouTube or Facebook. They have a right to be concerned, the guidelines of the new law are fairly strict but very poorly defined. 

The language used leaves room for the CRTC to interpret the meaning of some of the guidelines and requirements to fit their goal of promoting predominantly Canadian content. To be honest, it poses a slew of potential human rights issues. Below you’ll find a few of the main concerns it’s creating.

• It removes Canadian citizens rights to decide which content they watch
• It essentially forces content providers to ‘prove’ how Canadian they are
• The level of censorship in C-11 often leads to other government control tactics
• Harsh impact on small-scale/individual content creators
• Violates the right to information free of censorship by pushing Canadian sources
• Raises issues around how the CRTC will decide the ‘Canadian-ness’ of a source
• CRTC could force media platforms to modify algorithms for Canadian services
• Many online media platforms would be forced to invest in more Canadian content
• Media platforms may decide to bow out of the Canadian market instead of risking fines and penalties

Canadians Should Prepare for An Epic Backlash

So, how does this all affect Canadian citizens? Though Canadian lawmakers are quick to point out the law doesn’t include regulating individuals, just companies, it’s not true by any stretch of the imagination. Placing heavy restrictions on TikTok and YouTube has a ripple effect that impacts individuals who provide content on those platforms. The same can be said for independent filmmakers and streaming services.

According to Statista, blogs and personal channels make up 19% of video views on YouTube. These channels also make up 32% of the video giants content. With an average upload rate of 500 hours of video per minute, it’s not hard to see how an individual content creator’s bottomline could be negatively impacted by C-11 restrictions.

If Canada’s goal is to promote more Canadian products C-11 is a swing and a miss when it comes to media platforms like TikTok and YouTube. The restrictions place a guideline for what qualifies as Canadian and push viewers toward Canadian creators. C-11 will undoubtedly qualify content sponsors as Canadian under the same guidelines as creators. 

A content creator’s promotion of a product or service could seem forced. According to Clipchamp, 92% of users trust user-generated (i.e. authentic) content over traditional advertising. A problem that may affect Canadian companies in the long run. 

Canadians may lose certain services as a result of the bill as well. Media platforms could decide to bow out of the Canadian market altogether, instead of facing the risk of expensive fines for non-compliance. This is especially true for smaller media platforms that can’t afford to make the kind of changes this bill imposes on companies.

The pool of available content services could shrink exponentially in Canada. Why alter algorithms or add extra content to meet rigid restrictions when you can just offer your service elsewhere? Ultimately, the restrictions and limitations created on streaming services and other media platforms will negate the entire reason the C-11 bill was created. 

Avoid C-11 Restrictions

Promoting Canadian artists and content is a noble fight, but it shouldn’t impose on anyone’s freedom of choice. Don’t let the Canadian government dictate what you can and can’t watch or listen to on media platforms. 

Don’t force yourself to watch Canadian content, download a VPN. That way, you can still enjoy all your favorite content without being restricted to what the government deems Canadian enough.