A bill in the Quebec legislature that would force internet providers to block unsanctioned online gambling sites in the province has begun to draw opposition from “net neutrality” advocates.
The bill includes a provision that would force service providers to block the access of Quebec residents to sites not approved by the province.
According to the Canadian Press, Quebec’s finance minister says the bill is necessary to protect the health and safety of residents as illegal sites don’t apply the same “responsible gaming rules” as sites run by the government and pose a “risk to the population.”
Critics, however, say the bill is an attempt to censor the internet and also is a way for Quebec’s state-owned gambling authority to block competition. They also worry about setting a precedent for government blocking of internet sites in the country.
Law experts also say the legislation violates freedom of expression, contradicts federal telecommunications law and will likely be challenged in court by Internet companies and civil rights groups, the Press reported.
Quebec’s government-run gambling authority, Loto-Quebec, has been losing money to online gaming competitors, according to the 2015-16 budget documents cited by the Press. The government’s plan “would increase the dividend that Loto-Quebec pays to the government by $13.5million in 2016-17 and $27 million a year thereafter.”
Critics, however, say the government could use other means to block unlicensed sites—such as targeting payment providers—without censoring access through internet providers.
