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(Bloomberg) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government has introduced legislation that would ban youth under the age of 16 from using social media platforms operated by firms such as Meta Platforms Inc. and X Corp. unless the companies meet a set of safety standards.
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The bill introduced Wednesday would also impact artificial intelligence chatbots, though they wouldn’t face a ban on youth users. Firms must mitigate the risk of the chatbot communicating harmful content and be transparent about their reporting thresholds in crisis situations.
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The legislation comes ahead of Carney’s Friday meeting in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron, who has led a push in Europe to protect children online. Group of Seven leaders are also expected to discuss the issue next week.
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The Canadian government had signaled that it was mulling a ban on social media for children, but it stopped short of complete prohibition on Wednesday.
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The legislation enables the creation of a digital regulator, which would impose the new rules on social media platforms. The regulator will be tasked with setting out the requirements social media firms must follow in order to receive an exemption from the ban on users under the age of 16. Companies that don’t comply with the law will face monetary penalties.
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Canada is also considering developing an optional digital age license to facilitate access for those above the age of 16, a government official said in a background briefing.
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A mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, BC in February sparked concern about young people’s use of AI chat bots, after it was discovered that the 18-year-old suspect had discussed gun violence on OpenAI’s ChatGPT months before the attack.
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Any move to restrict youth access to digital platforms may add to existing friction with large US tech firms including Meta, which are already resisting Canadian rules on news content and streaming services. Carney’s government recently backed down on a plan to force companies such as Netflix Inc. to make larger financial contributions to Canadian film and television productions.
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The US Trade Representative’s office has cited Canada’s digital laws as trade barriers, signaling they may become points of contention in the upcoming review of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
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Australia has already legislated a ban on social-media use for children under 16 to address mental-health issues, cyberbullying, and exposure to harmful content. As well, the Canadian province of Manitoba plans a prohibition of its own.
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