B.C. attorney general urges Ottawa to include AI chatbots in youth social media rules

British Columbia Attorney General Niki Sharma says federal plans to set a minimum age for social media use should explicitly include artificial intelligence chatbots, arguing the rules would be ineffective if such platforms are excluded.

In a letter to the federal government, Sharma said tools such as ChatGPT should fall within any regulatory framework aimed at protecting children online. According to her office, the letter cites recent incidents, including a shooting in Tumbler Ridge, and references cases where AI tools were reportedly linked to harmful online behaviour.

Sharma said AI systems can be used to mislead young people or expose them to violent ideologies, raising concerns about safety and mental well-being. She added that excluding chatbots from proposed restrictions would undermine efforts to limit youth exposure to harmful online content.

The comments come after federal Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Marc Miller said Ottawa is considering setting a minimum age for social media accounts. Miller said an expert advisory group is currently examining options, but he did not confirm whether AI chatbot platforms would be included under any future legislation.

Sharma also raised concerns about oversight of major technology companies, saying they have operated with limited regulation for years. She said governments can no longer rely on companies to self-regulate when it comes to protecting youth and vulnerable users.