Cybertip.ca has been a driving force behind the creation of legislation making it mandatory to report child sexual abuse content. The Government of Canada, along with some provincial governments, has enacted legislation requiring individuals to report possible child pornography content. The goal of mandatory reporting is to facilitate the reporting of child pornography on the Internet, thus reducing the circulation of these harmful images, rescuing victims and identifying those committing crimes against children.
An Act Respecting the Mandatory Reporting of Internet Child Pornography by Persons who Provide an Internet Service, Bill C-22 makes it mandatory for those who supply an Internet service to report on-line child pornography. Under this legislation, those who provide Internet services to the public are required to:
Suppliers of Internet services are not required to send personal subscriber information under this statute. Since this legislation was also designed to limit access to child pornography and avoid creating new consumers of this type of material, nothing in the Act requires or authorizes a person to seek out child pornography.
In April 2009, Manitoba became the first province in Canada to proclaim the mandatory reporting of child pornography. The Child and Family Services Act was amended to include child pornography in the definition of child abuse. Under this legislation, any individual within Manitoba who sees something they believe to be child pornography is required by law to report it to Cybertip.ca.
To make a report to Cybertip.ca, please click here.
Every year, the tipline produces a report summarizing the results within Manitoba.
