Story perspectives

Canada Sets AI Regulator, Lets Platforms Keep Under-16 Users

6/11/2026

Left

Canada Creates Regulator

Canada’s proposal creates a new digital regulator to set AI-chatbot safety standards after a high-profile lawsuit.
The Canadian government introduced legislation allowing platforms to retain users under 16 with an exemption meeting undefined child-safety standards.
Child-protection advocates praised the measure, citing rising sextortion and other online harms to youth.
Critics say Meta and Snapchat are shirking responsibility by urging app stores to handle age-gating.

Right

Teens evade ban

About one-fifth of Australian teens are already using VPNs and similar tools to evade the pending under-16 social-media ban.
Bill C-34 would let platforms retain users under 16 if they secure an exemption by meeting undefined child-safety standards.
The government says the measure targets a 500 % surge in online child-sex-exploitation and rising child-luring.
Digital-policy expert Michael Geist warns the exemption could force mandatory ID collection and permanent age-gating.

History

Historical Context

Congress passed the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act in 1998, taking effect on April 21 2000 to require verifiable parental consent for data from users under 13. The FTC has since enforced the rule, issuing multi-million-dollar penalties such as a $170 million fine against YouTube in 2019. These actions underscore ongoing global debates over age-verification and online child safety.

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Canada Creates Regulator

Canada’s proposal creates a new digital regulator to set AI-chatbot safety standards after a high-profile lawsuit.
The Canadian government introduced legislation allowing platforms to retain users under 16 with an exemption meeting undefined child-safety standards.
Child-protection advocates praised the measure, citing rising sextortion and other online harms to youth.
Critics say Meta and Snapchat are shirking responsibility by urging app stores to handle age-gating.

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