Jordan Peterson Agrees to Social Media Training After Supreme Court Ruling

In a recent development, Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson has decided to comply with an order to undergo social media training. This comes after the Supreme Court of Canada declined to hear his appeal regarding the decision made by his professional body.

Peterson, known for his controversial views on gender identity and masculinity, was directed in 2022 by the College of Psychologists of Ontario to attend a social media training program. This order stemmed from concerns over some of his posts, which the college deemed potentially degrading and damaging to the reputation of the psychology profession.

Despite having been a registered psychologist since 1999, Peterson has not been seeing patients since 2017. He argued that his social media comments were not made in his professional capacity and challenged the complaints made against him.

One of the social media posts that raised eyebrows included Peterson calling a city councillor, who uses they/them pronouns, an “appalling, self-righteous, moralizing thing.” The complaints committee from the college pointed out that Peterson had even identified himself as a clinical psychologist during a podcast appearance, where he made derogatory remarks about a former client.

This dispute has attracted national attention, with many seeing it as a broader issue about freedom of speech. The Canadian Civil Liberties Association intervened, stating that while they do not support Peterson’s views, they believe professional bodies should not be policing comments that do not directly relate to professional conduct.

After the Ontario Court of Appeal upheld the college’s decision, Peterson’s lawyer labeled the Supreme Court’s decision as “a tragic day for Canada.” He argued that it sets a dangerous precedent for regulated professionals who might now fear retaliation for expressing their opinions online.

On the other side, advocacy groups like Egale Canada welcomed the decision, emphasizing the potential harm of Peterson’s statements on 2SLGBTQ+ communities and calling for accountability among psychologists who hold significant influence over health care access.

In response to the ruling, Peterson expressed frustration on social media, stating he felt he had “bereft of options” legally. His statement suggested that he viewed the enforcement of the training as an unwarranted restriction on his freedom of expression.