The Canadian government introduced Bill C-34 to ban children under 16 from social media platforms. Companies must block access unless they implement approved safeguards to earn a government exemption. A new digital safety commission will oversee and enforce the law.
Non-compliant firms face fines reaching 10 percent of their global revenue. The legislation allows for alternative penalties of $10 million if that amount is greater. This move aligns Canada with regulatory trends in Australia and France.
The bill sparked a dispute between social media companies and app store operators. Meta and Snap argue that Apple and Google should manage age verification. App stores currently resist this responsibility, creating an enforcement deadlock.