Ottawa introduces a bill to better protect children online

Ottawa introduces a bill to better protect children online

The federal government has introduced Bill C-34, the Safe Social Media Act, to strengthen the protection of children on social media and artificial intelligence platforms.

Introduced by Minister Marc Miller, the bill aims to prohibit access to social media for those under 16. Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, X, and Snapchat could be affected unless they implement measures deemed sufficient to protect minors.

The bill imposes three main obligations on online platforms: to protect children, to reduce the risks associated with harmful content, and to make certain content inaccessible within 24 hours. Targeted content includes child sexual exploitation, non-consensual distribution of intimate images, cyberbullying, hate speech, violence, and content related to terrorism.

AI-based chatbots, such as ChatGPT and Claude, would also be subject to new regulations. Companies will have to implement measures to limit the spread of harmful content and establish crisis response protocols, particularly when users express suicidal or violent intentions.

The bill also provides for the creation of an independent digital security commission tasked with enforcing the regulations. Companies that fail to comply with the new obligations could face fines of up to 3% of their global revenue or $10 million.

Before coming into force, the bill must be reviewed and passed by the Canadian Parliament. If adopted, Canada would join several countries that have already implemented or are considering age restrictions for access to social media.