A new bill introduced by Canada’s Liberal government yesterday will make it possible to receive life in prison for posting “online hate.” While the legislation purports to strengthen protection of minors from sexual abuse, critics are slamming the bill as an attack on free speech.

The Online Harm Act would amend Canada’s Criminal Code by increasing the maximum punishment for “advocating genocide” from five years to life in prison. It also adds an “offence motivated by hatred” with potential for life imprisonment. The proposed act defines hatred broadly as “the emotion that involves detestation or vilification and that is stronger than disdain or dislike.”

The Act would additionally amend the Canadian Human Rights Act (CHRA) so that posting “online hate speech” can be considered “discriminatory.” Previously, the CHRA defined discrimination as a “refusal to provide a service to someone—or declaring intent to do so—on the basis of a protected characteristic, such as religion or sex.” Complainants, under the proposed legislation, could be forced to pay up to $70,000 CAD in fines.