ANTI-ASIAN HATE ONLINE SETS THE STAGE FOR REAL-LIFE VIOLENCE

RACIALLY MOTIVATED HATE CRIMES INCREASE BY 6% IN 2021, AFTER RISING 83% IN 2020

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada continues to see a landslide of anti-Asian racism online fueled by disinformation and inflammatory content and language echoing the racist tropes and narratives all too familiar to Asian Canadians.

Its impact on Canadian society is still felt today, where online harm and violence targeting Asian bodies and lived experiences translate to extreme physical consequences, as we have seen in the Atlanta spa shooting and the attack on the Muslim family in London, Ontario. Anti-Asian racism and hate are situated within Canada’s broader history of colonization and systems of oppression which influenced many laws, court decisions, and social norms that continue to affect and marginalize Asian communities today.

As we work towards dismantling white supremacy and cultivating safeguards outside of legal frameworks, we seek to consult our community through our project, IDENTIFYING ANTI-ASIAN RACISM ONLINE, to better understand what alternate policies and strategies are needed beyond legal institutions, and to deepen our understanding of Canadian law so that we can be critical and mindful when legislative change happens

WHAT'S THE ISSUE?

Widespread disinformation and misinformation combined with the exponential rise of far-right content and political discourse online heightens and promotes violence and hate towards Chinese and Asian people, and creates friction within our communities.
Lack of political and legal knowledge and solidarity makes our communities vulnerable to extremist beliefs.
Political extremes and polarization force governments to pass laws and policies that directly impact Chinese and Asian communities in the margins.

OUR WORK

Old Wounds, New Platforms: A Chinese Canadian Examination on Digital Hate and Historical Harm is an upcoming report on how anti-Asian racism spreads online and the real-world harms it creates.

OBJECTIVES & ACTIONS:

Raise awareness: Publish plain-language explainers, infographics, and host community webinars on online hate and its impacts.
Map the problem: Produce a baseline report with a clear rubric defining online hate and mis/disinformation, key narratives, platforms, and real-time impacts on Asian Canadian communities.
Inform legislation: Participate in public policy consultations and submit evidence-based briefs that protect both community safety and national security while upholding rights.
Strengthen racial & legal literacy: Create practical toolkits and trainings for community groups, educators, and service providers.
Advance sustainable equity strategies by recommending long-term, community-led responses (reporting pathways, support services, platform accountability) that improve outcomes for all Asian Canadians.

KEY UPDATES

Bill C-63: Online Harms Act & Technical Briefing

MINISTER OF JUSTICE & CANADIAN HERITAGE

On July 29th, 2021, the Government of Canada published a legislative and regulatory framework proposal to confront harmful content online, and interested parties, such as CCNC-SJ, were invited to submit comments on what the new framework should address.

Following these submissions on February 26, 2024, the Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada introduced Bill C-63, otherwise known as the Online Harms Act, as a response to the feedback received from respondents across Canada.

Bill C-63 (includes but not limited) seeks to:

The establishment of the digital safety commission, ombudsman and office that would enforce the new act and advocate for Canadians.
Reduce exposure to harmful content online.
Better define and address hate propaganda and provide recourse to those who experience victimization by hate speech online
Enacting the new Online Harms Act, amend the Criminal Code and the Canadian Human Rights Act to address hate speech online

Resources

Last Update: July 2026 | Collected from community developers and supported by the Government of Canada.

Anti-Asian Racism Across Canada

Two Years Into the Covid-19 Pandemic
Chinese Canadian National Council – Toronto Chapter

This report was a grassroots initiative aimed at examining what it is like to live as an Asian in Canada 2 years into the COVID-19 pandemic, a period of heightened anti-Asian hate and racism. These findings were crucial in highlighting several significant themes, trends, and patterns and demonstrated the ongoing effects of anti-Asian racism as part of Canada’s larger history of racism. Facilitated by the Chinese Canadian National Council-Toronto Chapter (CCNC-TO) with Project 1907, and Elimin8hate, this report uses data collected from covidracism.ca, a tool aimed to capture a national landscape of under-represented experiences of anti-Asian racism and hate.

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CONFRONTING AND PREVENTING
HATE IN CANADIAN SCHOOLS

Toolkit and workshops focused on hate movements and propaganda
Canadian Anti-Hate Network (CAHN)

Confronting and Preventing Hate in Canadian Schools is a supplemental education program to support ongoing efforts to address overt and covert racism in Canadian schools. With a specific focus on responding to hate propaganda and movements aimed at youths and students, these resources share practical tools for school professionals, parents, and community stakeholders to proactively protect their communities from the influence of hate movements and propaganda. It also includes key scenarios, step by step strategies, and protective measures.

The Canadian Anti-Hate Network (CAHN) is an independent, nonprofit organization made up of Canada’s leading experts and researchers on hate groups and hate crimes. Their mandate is to monitor, research, and counter hate groups by providing education and information on hate groups to the public, media, researchers, courts, law enforcement, and community groups.

DIGITAL MEDIA LITERACY
EDUCATION AND RESOURCES

For teachers, educators, parents, and students grades K-12
MediaSmarts: Canada’s Centre for Digital Media Literacy

MediaSmarts includes digital and media literacy programs and resources for Canadian homes, schools, and communities to support adults with information and tools to help children and teens develop the critical thinking skills needed for interacting online.

Covering unique issues arising for digital media, these resources can be easily integrated into existing curriculum and include classroom lesson plans, with work sheets, backgrounders, tip sheets and essays, and multimedia games and quizzes. Along with licensed professional development workshops for teachers and librarians, and interactive modules for students.

#EradicateHate

A toolkit for children and youth in Ontario
Council of Agencies Serving South Asians (CASSA)

Anti-Hate Community Leaders’ Group

CASSA, brought together community leaders in the Greater Toronto Area in response to the devastating Christchurch Mosque Shooting in New Zealand to take preliminary action in ensuring events like this never happen (again) in this country. With a call out that went to 50 different community leaders and organizational leaders in Toronto, Peel region, York region, and Durham region. Approximately 40+ organizations came together to form the Anti-Hate Community Leaders’ Group. Since its initiation, however, the group has expanded and includes organizations across Canada.

AREAS OF FOCUS:

Legal Tools and Legislation
Social Media and Online Strategies
Education Tools for Children
Inter-faith Dialogue and Supports
Political Engagement
Media Engagement

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Women’s Guide to Cyber Safety 2025

Tools and strategies for preventing and addressing online harassment
Written by Sarah Frazier

of women globally have witnessed violence against other women online, with 10% in the EU experiencing cyber-harassment since age 15. It’s time to reclaim safety and dignity in digital spaces. This cyber safety guide offers practical tools to prevent and respond to online abuse—because everyone deserves to feel safe, respected, and empowered to participate fully in both online and offline life.