Ottawa new AI strategy, social media under-16 ban and privacy bill explained

Source Domain: barrie360.com

Over the last two weeks of the parliamentary sitting, the Liberal government made a series of moves related to AI and digital regulation.

It introduced a new AI strategy, a bill requiring social media platforms to ban kids under 16 and a long-awaited privacy bill. It also moved to block new rules requiring streamers to help fund Canadian content.

Here’s what you need to know.

What is the social media ban for kids going to look like?

Bill C-34, introduced on June 10, would force social media platforms to block access for kids under 16. Platforms will be able to obtain an exemption if they put sufficient safeguards in place — unless they offer adult content.

But many details about how the ban will work won’t be decided for a while.

For instance, beyond the big social media sites like X and Facebook, it’s not clear exactly which platforms will be affected. That will be up to federal cabinet, which will issue a directive once the bill becomes law.

The bill doesn’t set out a specific method to verify age. When asked which methods the government is considering, Culture Minister Marc Miller said there will be “a back and forth with platforms as to what protects people’s privacy and what is adequate and sufficient in the circumstances.”

Enforcement will be left to a sweeping new digital regulator, the Digital Safety and Data Protection Commission of Canada, which also will have responsibility for privacy laws that apply to tech companies.

The regulator will decide whether age-verification methods used by companies are effective and respect people’s privacy. It will also decide whether social media platforms qualify for exemptions to the age ban.

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