Ottawa moves to restrict social media for kids under 16
The bill would require social media platforms to block under-16 accounts and set new safety rules for AI chatbots and livestreaming services.
- On Wednesday, the federal government introduced the Safe Social Media Act, Bill C-34, in Ottawa, banning social media access for children under 16 and establishing safety standards for AI chatbots.
- Lianna McDonald, executive director with the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, called the digital landscape a "deliberate manufacturing of online spaces that put profit over and above safety," noting families are outmatched by online dangers.
- Culture Minister Marc Miller said social media services must remove sexually victimizing content within 24 hours, citing "tragic consequences" of online harm seen in Tumbler Ridge as motivation for the legislation.
- Lawsuits against OpenAI by families affected by the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting precede this legislation, though officials estimate it could take a year for the Bill to pass and 18 months to establish the digital regulator.
- As Prime Minister Mark Carney approaches the summer recess, nations including Australia, France, Denmark, and Poland are also tightening rules to protect children from online harms through similar age-based restrictions.
151 Articles
151 Articles
Canada moves to ban social media for U-16
The Canadian government has introduced a digital safety bill that would ban social media for children under-16 ?with exemptions for platforms that meet certain safety standards. The bill also aims to make AI chatbots safer by setting up a digital regulator to establish safety standards, a government official said. Companies could face penalties of 3% of global revenue or up to C$10 million for failing to comply. "This legislation will provide a …
The Canadian government has introduced a new digital safety bill that would ban people under 16 from using social media unless the platforms can prove they offer high safety standards for minors. The bill also creates a new regulatory body, called the Canadian Digital Safety Commission, which will oversee enforcement and set new standards for online platforms and artificial intelligence chatbots.
Canada Moves To Ban Social Media For Under-16s, Regulate AI Chatbots
Should children under 16 be allowed on social media at all? That’s the question Canada is now trying to answer with a sweeping new digital safety bill.The proposed law would ban social media access for under-16s, unless platforms meet strict safety requirements. It also goes further, targeting AI chatbots by setting up a new digital regulator to enforce safety standards across emerging technologies.Officials say the move is driven by growing con…
The Canadian government has introduced a new bill that aims to prevent young people under the age of 16 from accessing social networks. There are already several similar initiatives adopted by others...
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 55% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
