Proposed Safe Social Media Act would restrict access for children under 16

The federal government introduced the Safe Social Media Act on Wednesday, proposing to prohibit children under the age of 16 from using social media platforms and imposing significant penalties on companies that fail to comply.

Under the proposed legislation, companies found in violation of the rules could face fines of up to three per cent of their total global revenue. According to the federal government, the measure is intended to strengthen online protections for young people and reduce their exposure to harmful digital content.

The bill was introduced amid ongoing discussions about child safety online following the mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C. However, the government has chosen not to include a ban on artificial intelligence chatbots in the legislation.

Canadian Identity and Culture Minister Mark Miller said the government does not believe it is the right time to prohibit AI chatbots. He said that decision is why provisions banning AI chatbot use were left out of Bill C-34.

Instead, Miller said the legislation aims to establish a digital regulator that would oversee online platforms and help ensure AI-powered services operate more safely through regulatory oversight.