Canada introduced a digital safety bill on Wednesday that would ban children under 16 from social media unless platforms meet safety standards set by a new regulator.
The bill would create the Digital Safety Commission of Canada and set rules for platforms and AI chatbot services, according to Associated Press. It would cover harmful content, including self-harm, violence, hate speech and non-consensual intimate imagery.
Companies that fail to comply could face penalties of up to 3% of global revenue, or up to C$10 million, equivalent to about $7.2 million.
Marc Miller, Canada’s minister of Canadian identity and culture, said social media platforms and AI chatbots were designed to capture attention and had become linked to anxiety, isolation and depression among young Canadians.
Read: France Backs Social Media Ban for Children Under 15
The bill follows Australia’s under-16 social media ban, which made it the first country to enact such a national restriction. AP reported that Canada is joining a broader global push to tighten online protections for young people.
Google, which owns YouTube, said it would work with the federal government on higher safety standards. Meta, owner of Facebook and Instagram, said it was reviewing the Digital Safety Act.
Government officials said the bill could take a year to pass and another 18 months to set up the regulator. Brett Caraway, an associate professor at the University of Toronto, said Canada’s proposal was broader than Australia’s because it also covers AI.
