The proposed law requires systems to prevent child abuse and other harmful content
The Canadian government has proposed a bill that would ban social media for children under the age of 16, with the possibility of disallowing platforms that show “Enough protections.”
Ottawa unveiled the proposed legislation, dubbed the Safer Social Media Act, in a press release Wednesday.
If adopted, social media platforms would be required to implement age verification and reduce children’s exposure to harmful content, including child sexual abuse, non-consensual pornography, promotion of self-harm, bullying, hate, violence and terrorist or extremist material.
The bill will also regulate AI chatbots, if needed “reduce risk” of dangerous outcomes, and requiring better reporting from systems in crisis situations, such as when a user communicates with intent to harm themselves or others.
A new digital security regulator will be established to manage and enforce the law.
“We have seen the very serious effects that the effects of the internet can have. As technology advances, we must ensure that our laws keep pace, because parents cannot face these challenges alone,” Canadian Culture Minister Marc Miller said in a government press release.
The bill comes amid international efforts to regulate children’s online activities.
Late last year, Australia became the first country to ban children under 16 from accessing major social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Brazil and Indonesia introduced their sanctions in May.
France has developed a law to ban children under 15 from social media, although the move has not yet completed the legislative process. Other countries, including the UK, Austria and Denmark, are also creating similar restrictions.
Social media giants such as Meta Platforms, TikTok and YouTube have come under intense scrutiny in recent months, including in a product liability trial in Los Angeles over allegations that they intentionally designed their platforms to appeal to children.
Court filings also alleged that Meta’s Facebook failed to adequately police accounts involved in sexual abuse and child trafficking, with some illegal content reportedly remaining online after 16 violations were recorded.
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