News Desk
OTTAWA: Canada’s government has introduced legislation that would ban children under the age of 16 from using social media platforms unless those services meet specific safety standards, marking a major step in the country’s efforts to strengthen online protections for young people.
The proposed digital safety bill, unveiled on Wednesday, would also introduce new rules for artificial intelligence chatbots and establish a digital regulator responsible for setting and enforcing safety standards. Under the legislation, companies that fail to comply could face penalties of up to 3% of their global revenue or C$10m, whichever is greater.
Canadian Identity and Culture Minister Marc Miller said social media platforms and AI chatbots were designed to capture users’ attention and had contributed to anxiety, isolation, depression and other mental health challenges among young Canadians. He said the legislation aimed to create a safer environment for children and teenagers, allowing them to focus on education, build friendships in person and develop practical life skills.
The bill was introduced weeks after families affected by one of Canada’s deadliest mass shootings filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging the company failed to alert authorities despite claims that the suspected attacker had discussed plans on ChatGPT. OpenAI has not publicly responded to the allegations.
The proposal follows similar action in Australia, which last year became the first country to introduce a nationwide social media ban for children under 16. Australian authorities said millions of teenage accounts were deactivated after the law came into force. Officials said it could take up to a year for the legislation to pass through Parliament and a further 18 months to establish the proposed regulator.
A spokesperson for Google, which owns YouTube, said the company was committed to working with the government on improving online safety standards for children. Experts noted that Canada’s approach differs from Australia’s by focusing not only on restricting access to social media but also on redesigning digital platforms and regulating AI technologies to improve safety for young users.
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