Canada has taken a major step toward reshaping online safety policy with legislation that would ban social media access for children under 16 and introduce new regulatory oversight for artificial intelligence chatbots. If approved, the proposal would place Canada among a growing group of countries seeking stricter controls on how young people interact with digital platforms.
The proposed Digital Safety Act goes beyond a simple age restriction. It combines child online protection measures with AI governance, reflecting growing concerns among policymakers about the influence of social media algorithms and conversational AI systems on younger users.
Under the legislation, social media platforms would be prohibited from allowing users under the age of 16 unless they qualify for exemptions by meeting government-defined safety standards. The bill would also establish a new digital regulator responsible for developing and enforcing safety requirements for AI chatbots operating in Canada.
The financial consequences for non-compliance could be significant. Companies that fail to follow the rules could face penalties of up to 3% of global revenue or C$10 million, whichever amount is greater. The proposal could therefore affect major technology firms including Meta, Google-owned YouTube, Snapchat, X and developers of AI-powered chatbot services.
Canadian officials argue that stronger protections are needed as digital platforms increasingly compete for user attention. Marc Miller, Canada’s minister of Canadian identity and culture, said social media platforms and AI chatbots have become a source of anxiety, isolation, depression and other mental health challenges for many young Canadians.
Growing Global Push for Stronger Online Safety Rules
Canada’s proposal arrives months after Australia became the first country to introduce a nationwide social media ban for children under 16. According to Reuters, social media companies collectively deactivated nearly five million teen accounts shortly after Australia’s law took effect.
While Australia’s approach focuses primarily on restricting access, Canada’s framework aims to place broader responsibilities on platforms themselves. Experts say this could lead to stricter age-verification requirements, enhanced content moderation systems and stronger safeguards designed specifically for younger users.
The legislation also reflects growing concern about the rapid rise of AI chatbots. Governments around the world are still determining how to regulate generative AI tools, particularly when they are used by minors or become involved in sensitive discussions. By including AI oversight in the bill, Canada is moving into territory that many countries have not yet fully addressed.
The timing is notable. The proposal comes weeks after families affected by one of Canada’s deadliest mass shootings filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging the company knew the alleged attacker was discussing plans on ChatGPT but failed to notify authorities. OpenAI did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
Major technology companies have begun reviewing the legislation. Google said it is committed to working with the federal government to improve online safety standards, while Meta stated that it supports positive online experiences for young people and is assessing the details of the proposed law.
Canada is not alone in reconsidering digital safety standards. France, Denmark and Poland are examining stricter rules around children’s social media use, while Greece has announced plans to restrict social media access for users under 15 beginning in 2027. Similar verification measures are already appearing across major platforms, with Discord introducing face scan and ID verification requirements in several regions as regulators push for stronger protections online.
Brett Caraway, an associate professor at the University of Toronto who studies technology and privacy, told Reuters that Canada’s proposal is broader than Australia’s because it seeks to reshape the social media environment itself while also addressing AI-related risks.
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The road to implementation could still be lengthy. Government officials estimate it may take up to a year for Parliament to pass the bill and another 18 months to establish the new regulator. Even so, the proposal signals that governments are increasingly willing to move beyond voluntary industry commitments and introduce legally enforceable standards for both social media platforms and AI technologies.
Source: Information based on Reuters reporting. Additional digital policy context available through the OECD Digital Policy Programme.
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