Canada tables Bill C-34 to mandate age verification and content moderation

The bill shifts from the previous 'Online Harms' framework to a more aggressive mandate that could force streaming and gaming platforms to implement invasive ID-checking technologies. By leaving specific thresholds to future Cabinet discretion, it creates significant operational uncertainty for platforms that integrate social or interactive components, as they may be reclassified under strict 'social media' rules at any time. This follows a global trend of digital age-gating, but Canada's version is uniquely centralized. Watch for the Digital Safety Commission’s first draft of 'effective' verification standards, which will determine the level of friction and data liability for Canadian operators.

Bill C-34, introduced in June 2026, represents the Liberal government’s third attempt at internet safety legislation after Bill C-63 (the Online Harms Act) died on the order paper in January 2025 following a parliamentary dissolution. While C-63 was criticized for contentious Criminal Code reforms, Bill C-34 pivots toward platform-duty requirements and under-16 account restrictions. Per Michael Geist (June 2026), the new bill bundles social media bans with pornography age-verification requirements and a new regulatory regime for AI chatbots, an 'everything-all-at-once' approach that leaves 50 critical implementation points to be decided after passage.

This legislative push aligns Canada with a growing international 'patchwork' of age-gating laws. Per the Electronic Frontier Foundation (January 2026), nearly half of U.S. states have mandated age-verification for adult content or social media as of 2025, though many face ongoing First Amendment challenges. Notably, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a Texas age-verification statute in June 2025 (Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton), providing a potential constitutional roadmap for similar mandates globally. Other jurisdictions have gone further; per Jurist (June 2026), Australia and Malaysia have already implemented or proposed under-16 social media bans using electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) verification methods.

Industry groups like the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) warned in June 2026 that Bill C-34’s broad language may lead platforms to over-comply by censoring lawful speech to avoid massive fines. Furthermore, the inclusion of interactive gaming platforms under potential social media definitions could disrupt the gaming sector. Per CityNews (June 2026), while the government frames the bill as essential child protection, experts suggest the complexity of setting up the Digital Safety Commission means full implementation could realistically take years.