Skip to Content Subscribe Our Offers My Account Manage My Subscriptions FAQ Newsletters Canada Canadian True Crime Canadian Politics Health World Israel & Middle East Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Comics NP News Quiz New York Times Crossword Horoscopes Life Eating & Drinking Style Sponsored Play for Ontario Travel Travel Canada Travel USA Travel International Cruises Travel Essentials Culture Books Celebrity Movies Music Theatre Television Business Essentials Advice Lives Told Tails Told Shopping Buy Canadian Home Living Outdoor Living Kitchen & Dining Tech Style & Beauty Personal Care Entertainment & Hobbies Gift Guide Travel Guide Amazon Prime Day Deals Savings National Post Store More Sports Hockey Baseball Basketball Football Soccer Golf Tennis Driving Vehicle Research Reviews News Gear Guide Obituaries Place an Obituary Place an In Memoriam Classifieds Place an Ad Celebrations Working Business Ads Archives Healthing Epaper Manage Print Subscription Profile Settings My Subscriptions Saved Articles My Offers Newsletters Customer Service FAQ Newsletters Canada World Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Life Shopping Epaper Manage Print Subscription HomeNewsCanadaCanadian PoliticsFeds introduce legislation to restrict social media for minors and create new digital safety commissionThe government does not plan to institute a ban for AI chatbotsLast updated 7 minutes ago You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture Marc Miller speaks during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, June 4, 2026. Photo by HYUNGCHEOL PARK/PostmediaOTTAWA — The Liberal government is moving ahead with a plan to require social media companies to restrict access to their sites for those under 16, saying companies will be able to seek exemptions.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorThe measure is being proposed in a new bill Canadian Heritage Minister Marc Miller tabled Wednesday afternoon, known as the “Safe Social Media Act.”The legislation revives certain measures advanced under former prime minister Justin Trudeau but which were never passed, including the creation of a new regulator, the Digital Safety Commission of Canada and a new requirement for platforms to submit safety plans.It also seeks to establish a rule that platforms must remove content that “sexually victimizes a child” or includes the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, including sexualized deepfakes, within 24 hours of being flagged. Wednesday’s bill proposes requiring social media platforms to restrict access to users under 16, but would allow companies to seek an exemption if they make changes to improve safety on the sites that are deemed as sufficient by the new regulator.Deciding which social media platforms would be covered by the ban would be left up to the federal cabinet. Miller told reporters on Wednesday that a social media ban would take effect once the bill becomes law.The government plans to leave it up to platforms to implement age verification methods. The bill includes an exclusion for “any private messaging feature of the service.”When it comes to AI chatbots, the government does not plan to institute a ban, but rather require companies implement new measures, such as “crisis intervention protocols,” but not a mandatory reporting requirement to police for threats.More to come … National PostOur website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here. Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.