The Canadian government has introduced a new digital safety bill that would ban social media for children under 16, with exemptions for platforms meeting certain safety standards. The proposed “Digital Safety Act” also aims to regulate AI chatbots by establishing a digital regulator to set safety standards.
Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture Marc Miller stated, “We have seen the very serious consequences that online harms can have. The safety of children cannot be an afterthought.” Companies that fail to comply could face penalties of 3% of global revenue or up to C$10 million ($7.2 million), whichever is greater.
Miller highlighted that social media and AI chatbots are designed to capture attention and do not support healthy childhood development, contributing to anxiety, isolation, depression, and other mental health challenges. The legislation aims to provide a safer environment for young Canadians and encourage in-person connections.
The bill’s introduction follows a lawsuit by families affected by a mass shooting, alleging OpenAI knew the killer was planning the attack but did not warn police. The government noted that online harms are shaped by platform design features like algorithmic recommendations, autoplay, and endless scrolling, which can amplify harmful content for young users.
The bill sets new safety requirements for social media and AI chatbot services, including identifying risks, adopting measures to address them, implementing age-appropriate design, and providing blocking and flagging tools. Platforms must remove non-consensual intimate images within 24 hours of being flagged.
Canada follows Australia, which in December became the first country to ban social media for children under 16. Other nations like France, Denmark, Poland, and Greece are also considering similar restrictions.
