Shaping Online Harms Policy: Civil Society and Tech Funding in Canada

Background: This article considers how civil society shaped Canada’s online harms policy.

Analysis: Considering the differences between tech-funded and non-tech-funded civil society organizations (CSOs), this article examines Canada’s 2021 federal consultations on online harms through a clerical and thematic analysis of submissions. We find that tech-funded CSOs aligned more closely with tech company positions, while non-tech-funded CSOs articulated distinct concerns. The government summary reflected both perspectives, but it did so unevenly.

Conclusions and implications: We highlight the substantive role of civil society in platform governance, demonstrate differences based on funding sources, and provide empirical support for networked governance theories.