Canada advances Safe Social Media Act to address online harms

The Canadian federal government has moved the Safe Social Media Act closer to implementation following its second reading in the House of Commons in late October. The legislation aims to mitigate risks posed by social media and AI chatbots to young people.

If passed, the bill would establish seven categories of harmful content and mandate stricter removal procedures. It also requires AI chatbots to implement age-appropriate restrictions and measures to address violent ideation. To oversee these changes, the act proposes the creation of the Digital Safety Commission, an independent regulator tasked with developing regulations, conducting audits, and enforcing compliance.

While online safety advocates support the bill as a necessary step to protect youth, privacy experts have raised concerns. Specifically, critics have warned about the privacy implications of age verification software, which may require users to provide biometric data to social media corporations.