Canada Proposes 'Super-Regulator' to Enforce Online Safety and AI Rules

For streaming platforms and social media operators, this consolidates content moderation and data privacy under one authority, significantly increasing compliance risks through high-revenue-linked fines. By merging these mandates, Canada deviates from the separate-regulator models seen in Australia and the UK, effectively creating a single point of enforcement for all algorithmic and data-driven activities. This move signals a shift toward proactive, government-directed digital policy rather than independent oversight. Watch for the 18-month setup period to begin defining the specific 'age-appropriate design' requirements that will dictate how global platforms must re-engineer their Canadian user experiences.

The introduction of Bill C-34 and C-36 in June 2026 represents a relaunch of digital policies that stalled in early 2025. Per Wikipedia and official government records, the predecessor legislation, Bill C-63 (the Online Harms Act) and Bill C-27 (the Digital Charter Implementation Act), died on the order paper in January 2025 following the prorogation of Parliament. The new bills carry forward central tenets of those efforts, including a systemic 'duty to act responsibly' for platforms and the regulation of 'high-impact' AI systems, which were core to the original AIDA framework within Bill C-27.

Canada’s proposed social media ban for minors mirrors recent international moves, most notably in Australia. Per the Australian eSafety Commissioner, Australia implemented its own Social Media Minimum Age Act in December 2025, which also sets a threshold of 16 years and subjects platforms to fines of up to AUD 50 million for failing to take 'reasonable steps' to restrict underage users. While Australia utilizes an established eSafety regulator, Canada’s decision to build a new commission from scratch has drawn criticism regarding a potential 'period of chaos' during the 18-month transition.

Simultaneously, Canada is working to align its digital economy with European standards to protect cross-border data flows. Per Fasken (July 2025), Canadian firms are increasingly navigating the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA). Strengthening domestic privacy and AI rules via Bill C-36 is seen by some legal experts as a necessary step to maintain Canada’s 'adequacy' status with the European Commission, ensuring that data transfers between the regions remain uninterrupted by emerging global cybersecurity protocols.