- Proposed Law Targets Online Harms, AI Chatbot Risks and Establishes New Digital Regulator
OTTAWA: The Canadian government has introduced a new digital safety bill aimed at restricting social media access for children under the age of 16, while also strengthening oversight of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.
The proposed legislation would prohibit social media platforms from allowing users under 16 to access their services, with possible exemptions for companies that demonstrate compliance with strict online safety requirements.
The move follows Australia’s decision to implement the world’s first social media ban for children under 16, a policy that has sparked similar discussions in several other countries.
According to government officials, the Canadian bill would also introduce new safeguards for AI chatbots by establishing a digital regulator responsible for setting and enforcing safety standards.
The legislation comes shortly after families affected by one of Canada’s deadliest mass shootings filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging that the company was aware of the suspected attacker’s plans through ChatGPT but failed to alert authorities.
Australia introduced its under-16 social media restriction in December, becoming the first country to adopt such a measure. Following the implementation of the law, social media companies reportedly deactivated millions of accounts belonging to teenagers.
Several European countries, including France, Denmark and Poland, are also reviewing tighter regulations on children’s access to social media. Greece has announced plans to restrict access for users under 15 starting in 2027.
Canadian officials said the proposed legislation could take approximately one year to pass through Parliament, with the establishment of the digital regulator expected to require an additional 18 months.
The bill faces a challenging legislative path as Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government holds only a narrow majority in Parliament, which is scheduled to enter its summer recess soon.
BY: The Times Union
