MONTREAL: Canada has introduced legislation that would ban children under the age of 16 from having social media accounts and impose new regulations on artificial intelligence chatbot services, as the government seeks to strengthen online safety protections.
The proposed Digital Safety Act, unveiled on Wednesday by Culture Minister Marc Miller, would make Canada one of the latest countries to tighten restrictions on social media platforms amid growing concerns about their impact on young people.
Under the legislation, social media companies would be prohibited from allowing users under 16 to hold accounts unless they can demonstrate sufficient safeguards to protect children.
The law would also require platforms, including adult-content services, to reduce users’ exposure to harmful content and clearly label AI-generated material.
“The safety of children cannot be an afterthought,” Miller said while announcing the proposal.
The legislation would establish a Digital Safety Commission to oversee enforcement. Companies found in violation of the rules could face penalties of up to three per cent of their global revenue or CAD$10 million.
In addition to social media restrictions, the bill would introduce new rules for AI chatbot providers.
Companies would be required to take measures to prevent chatbots from generating harmful content and provide greater transparency in crises, including cases involving potential self-harm or threats to others.
The proposal follows similar measures introduced in other countries.
Australia became the first nation to require major social media platforms to remove accounts held by under-16s, while Indonesia has also begun enforcing age-based restrictions.
If passed, the legislation would mark one of Canada’s most significant efforts to regulate online platforms and artificial intelligence technologies.
