The federal government has introduced sweeping new legislation aimed at protecting children from online harms, including a proposed ban on social media accounts for children under the age of 16 and new rules governing artificial intelligence chatbots.
The proposed legislation, known as Bill C-34, the Safe Social Media Act, was introduced on June 10 by Marc Miller. The bill would create a new federal digital safety framework designed to hold social media platforms and AI-powered services accountable for preventing harm before it occurs.
The legislation comes amid growing concerns over cyberbullying, online child exploitation, self-harm content, hate speech, and the impact of social media on youth mental health.
Government officials say the bill represents one of Canada’s most significant attempts to regulate online platforms and emerging AI technologies.
At the center of the legislation is a proposed age restriction that would prevent children under 16 from creating accounts on social media platforms.
Companies would be able to seek exemptions if they can demonstrate that sufficient safeguards are in place to protect young users.
The government argues that existing laws largely address harms after they occur but fail to require technology companies to actively prevent harmful situations from developing.
The bill would require platforms to prioritize child safety when designing products, features, algorithms, and user interactions. Companies would also be obligated to identify, assess, and reduce risks associated with their services.
“We have seen the very serious consequences that online harms can have. As technologies evolve, we must ensure our laws keep pace, because parents cannot face these challenges alone,” Miller said.
“The safety of children cannot be an afterthought. This legislation will introduce stronger responsibilities for online platforms to ensure their services are safe by design and include appropriate measures to keep children safe.”
Under the proposed framework, social media services, livestreaming platforms, and user-uploaded adult content services would be subject to three major obligations.
The first is a Duty to Protect Children, which would apply across all regulated services.
The second, called the Duty to Act Responsibly, would require platforms to identify and mitigate risks associated with seven categories of harmful content. Platforms would also need to label synthetically generated content, including certain AI-generated material, and provide accessible reporting and blocking tools.
The third obligation, the Duty to Make Certain Content Inaccessible, would require the rapid removal of content involving child sexual exploitation, material that revictimizes survivors, and intimate images shared without consent, including deepfake sexual content.
Government officials say the measures are intended to create a safer online environment while increasing transparency regarding how platforms manage harmful content.
The legislation also targets the rapidly growing AI sector.
Certain AI chatbot services would be required to reduce the risk of generating harmful content and implement safeguards to prevent dangerous interactions with users.
Companies operating chatbot systems would need to clearly explain how they respond to crisis situations involving threats of self-harm or violence and take steps to prevent chatbots from engaging in harmful behaviour.
The move reflects increasing international scrutiny of AI technologies as governments attempt to balance innovation with public safety concerns.
The legislation would establish a new independent regulator known as the Digital Safety Commission of Canada.
The commission would oversee compliance, conduct audits, issue enforcement orders, and impose penalties on companies that fail to meet regulatory requirements.
It would also receive and review complaints from users when social media companies fail to adequately address harmful content complaints.
In addition to enforcement responsibilities, the commission would conduct research, establish online safety standards, review company safety plans, and develop public education resources.
Federal officials cited mounting evidence linking online harms to declining youth mental health.
Marjorie Michel said social media and AI technologies have increasingly become sources of anxiety and social isolation among young Canadians.
“Social media platforms and AI chatbots are designed to capture attention. They do not support healthy childhood development and have become a source of anxiety, isolation, depression and a range of other mental health challenges for many young Canadians,” Michel said.
“The healthy development of our children begins with their physical and mental well-being, which is grounded in strong and healthy social connections. This legislation will provide a safer environment for young Canadians and empower them to connect in-person, build friendships, focus in school, and learn real-world skills so they can thrive.”
The government also pointed to statistics showing that one in four Canadian youth aged 12 to 17 reported experiencing cyberbullying in 2019.
Research cited by officials indicates that cybervictimization is associated with mental health challenges, including suicidal ideation and suicide attempts.
Authorities say the legislation responds to a sharp increase in online crimes targeting children.
According to government figures, police services across Canada reported 16,905 incidents of online child sexual exploitation in 2024, representing a 347 per cent increase since 2014.
The legislation identifies seven categories of harmful content that regulated platforms must address, including:
- Child sexual exploitation content;
- Non-consensual intimate images;
- Content encouraging self-harm among children;
- Cyberbullying content;
- Hate-promoting material;
- Content inciting violence; and
- Terrorism and violent extremism content.
Several child protection and health organizations welcomed the proposed legislation.
Evan Solomon said stronger safeguards are necessary as digital technologies play a larger role in everyday life.
“Canadians, especially children, deserve to be safe online. As social media, digital platforms and AI technologies play a growing role in how Canadians connect, learn and communicate, we need clear rules that protect children, build trust and hold companies accountable.”
Anna Gainey described the legislation as a response to growing evidence about online risks facing children.
“The evidence is clear: online harms are putting our children especially at risk. The Safe Social Media Act will hold platforms accountable and help make the internet safer.”
Dr. Bolu Ogunyemi, President of the Canadian Medical Association, said technology companies should bear greater responsibility for the impact of their platforms.
“Time’s up. It’s unacceptable for foreign-owned platforms to continue to get rich at the expense of our children’s mental health, privacy and personal safety.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Charlotte Moore Hepburn of The Hospital for Sick Children said pediatricians across Canada are witnessing growing mental health challenges linked to online environments.
“The introduction of this legislation is a critical and welcome step forward. The health and development of a generation of children and youth depend on getting this right.”
Lianna McDonald, Executive Director of the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, called the bill a potentially historic intervention.
“For over 20 years, the Canadian Centre for Child Protection has documented a steep and accelerating rise in online harms against children, including child sexual abuse and exploitation,” McDonald said.
“The tabling of the Digital Safety Act is a historic day that could turn the tide on this trajectory.”
Bill C-34 must proceed through the parliamentary process before becoming law.
If adopted, the legislation would establish a new digital safety regime requiring social media companies and AI service providers operating in Canada to implement proactive measures aimed at reducing online harms, particularly those affecting children.
The proposal positions Canada among a growing number of countries seeking stronger oversight of social media platforms and artificial intelligence technologies as concerns over digital safety continue to intensify.
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