Following is the introduction to Paul Schabas’ presentation prepared for the annual Justice for Free Expression Conference being held on 4-5 April, 2016. Download the full pdf version below.

In Canada, the last 12 months have seen the enactment of federal legislation criminalizing terrorist speech, anti-SLAPP legislation in Ontario, and significant decisions expanding privacy law and jurisdiction over internet search engines. The Law Commission of Ontario has recently launched a comprehensive review of defamation law, and last month the federal Privacy Commissioner issued a discussion paper on Online Reputation, plainly raising whether the “right to be forgotten” should become part of Canadian law.