The Canadian government has introduced a digital safety bill that would ban children under 16 from using social media platforms. The legislation also aims to enhance the safety of AI-powered chatbots through the establishment of a digital regulator.

Minister of Citizenship and Culture Mark Miller stated that social media and AI chatbots are designed to capture attention and do not support healthy development, causing anxiety, isolation, depression, and other mental health issues among young Canadians. The law is intended to create a safer environment and encourage real-life interaction.

Companies that violate the law could face fines of up to 3% of global revenue or 10 million Canadian dollars ($7.2 million), whichever is greater.

The bill was introduced weeks after families of victims of a school shooting in Tambler Ridge sued OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman, alleging that the company was aware of the planned attack through the shooter's ChatGPT conversations but failed to alert authorities. The attack killed nine people, including several children.

Australia became the first country to impose a social media ban for children under 16 in December 2025. Similar measures are now being considered in the UK, France, Spain, Denmark, and Turkey.

Source: www.gazeta.uz