Canada proposes under-16 social media ban and new AI chatbot safety rules

Canada's federal government has introduced legislation that would restrict access to social media platforms for children under the age of 16, establish new online safety requirements for digital services, and regulate artificial intelligence chatbots.

The proposed legislation, known as Bill C-34, the Safe Social Media Act, was tabled in the House of Commons on 11 June by Canadian Identity and Culture Minister Marc Miller. The bill represents the latest effort by Prime Minister Mark Carney's government to address online harms affecting children and young people.

"We're failing our children. Enough is enough," Miller said when introducing the legislation. "We need basic protection in place so every child in this country can be safe on platforms they use every day."

Under-16 social media restrictions

The centrepiece of the proposed legislation is a requirement that social media services prevent children under 16 from maintaining accounts on their platforms.

The bill defines social media broadly as websites or applications that facilitate interprovincial or international online communication by allowing users to access and share content. Services expected to fall under the legislation include platforms operated by Meta, including Facebook and Instagram, as well as Snapchat and other social networking services.

However, the legislation stops short of a blanket ban. Companies would be able to seek exemptions if they can demonstrate that their platforms incorporate sufficient safeguards to protect children from harmful content and online risks.

Government officials said the criteria for such exemptions would be established later through regulations. Adult-content platforms would not qualify for exemptions.

Miller argued that social media can be made safer through platform design rather than through outright prohibition.

"There's part of my brain that agrees with it, but I think we know that social media can be made safe by design," he said.

Enforcement through a new regulator

The bill proposes the creation of an independent Digital Safety Commission, which would oversee compliance with the legislation.

The commission would have authority to monitor platforms, conduct audits, investigate complaints, issue compliance orders and impose financial penalties.

Under the proposed law, companies could face fines of up to C$10 million or three per cent of their global gross revenue, whichever amount is higher. Multiple penalties could be imposed for repeated violations.

Officials estimate that establishing the regulator could take up to 18 months after the legislation receives Royal Assent.

Despite that timeline, Miller said the restrictions on under-16 users would take effect immediately once the bill becomes law.

The government has not yet explained exactly how social media companies would verify users' ages. Officials said implementation details would be developed through future regulations and discussions with industry.

Miller said a regulator with enforcement powers would be necessary because some young people may attempt to circumvent restrictions.

"That is why it was so key to have a commission able to interact with industry and able to give some teeth to this law, so that we just didn't hope and pray that this would be enforced," he said.

Regulation of AI chatbots

The legislation also introduces requirements for public-facing artificial intelligence chatbots, including systems such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Grok.

Rather than imposing age restrictions on chatbot use, the bill requires companies to incorporate safety measures designed to reduce harmful content generation.

Officials said chatbot providers would be required to respond appropriately when users express suicidal thoughts, self-harm ideation or intentions to commit acts that could result in death or serious bodily harm.

The legislation would not require companies to report such interactions to police.

Miller described AI systems as an evolving technology that presents both opportunities and risks for children.

"We're going to have to keep a close eye on it. It did not feel appropriate to impose a minimum age restriction at this time," he said.

The government has faced growing pressure to regulate AI systems following the mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge earlier this year, which renewed scrutiny of how chatbot providers handle potentially dangerous interactions.

Miller suggested the proposed rules could help reduce risks associated with AI systems.

"I'm not going to sit here and pretend today that there is one rapid solution that would have prevented" the Tumbler Ridge shooting, he said, "but I do think this law could have made a difference."

Content removal requirements

The bill would require social media platforms to remove certain categories of harmful content rapidly.

These include content that sexually victimises children, material that re-victimises survivors of child sexual abuse, and non-consensual intimate images.

Platforms would also be required to label synthetically generated content created using artificial intelligence technologies.

According to the government, the legislation is intended to shift responsibility towards prevention rather than merely responding after harm has occurred.

Government under pressure

The Liberal government has promised online harms legislation since the 2021 federal election campaign.

A previous attempt under former prime minister Justin Trudeau failed to become law after Parliament was prorogued in early 2025. That proposal included amendments to the Criminal Code and the Canadian Human Rights Act that critics argued could restrict freedom of expression.

Miller acknowledged that previous versions of the legislation attracted legitimate criticism.

"There were, in my mind, legitimate criticisms about inserting criminal repercussions" into earlier proposals, he said.

The government has been under increasing pressure from parents, mental health advocates and child-safety organisations to address concerns about social media's addictive design features and exposure to harmful content.

Advocacy groups such as Unplugged Canada have called for stronger protections, including age-based restrictions on social media access.

Support for Stronger Regulation

Some digital policy experts have argued that technology companies should be required to demonstrate that their products are safe before allowing unrestricted access to children.

Taylor Owen, who served on a government advisory panel on online safety, said social media restrictions could be justified until companies prove their platforms are adequately safe.

"A ban assumes that a product can never be made safe," Owen said.

"I do think it's fair to say that until companies prove their products are safe, we think the dangers in them are so great that we should temporarily remove their access to a market."

He has advocated for a regulatory model involving risk assessments, transparency requirements and age-appropriate platform design standards.

Privacy and constitutional concerns

The proposed legislation has already generated criticism from legal scholars and digital rights advocates.

At a panel discussion hosted by the MacEachen Institute for Public Policy and Governance at Dalhousie University, experts questioned both the effectiveness and potential consequences of age-verification requirements.

Michael Karanicolas warned that any age-verification system could significantly increase data collection and surveillance.

He argued that systems requiring identity verification could expose Canadians to privacy risks if personal information is intercepted or misused.

"What those companies do with the data that they collect and its processes is unknown, unregulated," said Renee Black, founder of the digital safety organisation GoodBot.

Freedom of expression questions

Experts have also raised concerns about potential constitutional challenges.

Toby Mendel argued that restrictions on children's access to social media could engage freedom of expression protections under Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

According to Mendel, courts would likely need to determine whether protecting children justifies limitations on those rights.

Researchers have also warned that mandatory age verification could undermine lawful online anonymity.

A report produced by Dalhousie's Information Policy Lab argued that legal protections for freedom of expression have long recognised the importance of anonymous speech and cautioned against measures that could discourage lawful participation online.

Impact on marginalised youth

The same report raised concerns about the effect of restrictions on vulnerable and marginalised groups.

Researchers argued that social media platforms often provide important spaces for community-building, education and support that may not be available offline.

The report highlighted concerns that LGBTQ2S+ young people, in particular, could lose access to valuable sources of information, identity development and peer support if broad restrictions are imposed.

It also warned that poorly designed age-verification systems could inadvertently limit access to age-appropriate LGBTQ2S+ content.

International context

Canada's proposal follows similar developments overseas.

In late 2024, Australia became the first country to legislate a minimum age requirement for social media accounts on major platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.

Australian authorities have since faced challenges implementing and enforcing those restrictions, with reports indicating some young users have found ways to bypass the rules.

Canadian officials said they have studied Australia's experience while developing their own legislation and acknowledge that no age-verification system can be entirely effective.

The issue is also expected to feature in discussions among leaders at upcoming international meetings, including the G7 summit.

The bill must pass both the House of Commons and the Senate before becoming law.

Debate is expected to focus on age verification, privacy protections, freedom of expression, platform accountability and the practical challenges of enforcing restrictions on social media and AI services.