Internet & Online Safety · Canada
Online safety & content laws in Canada (2026)
Canada shaded by its internet & online safety status
Online safety rules in Canada: proposed.
FrameworkBill C-34, the Safe Social Media Act (introduced June 10, 2026), which would enact the Digital Safety Act and the Digital Safety Commission of Canada Act; currently at reading stage in the 45th Parliament. No comprehensive online safety law is yet in force — the prior Bill C-63 (Online Harms Act) died when Parliament was prorogued on January 6, 2025.
Canada does not yet have a comprehensive, in-force online safety / content-moderation regime. The first attempt, Bill C-63 (Online Harms Act, 2024), died on the Order Paper in January 2025. On June 10, 2026, the government tabled a revamped Bill C-34 (Safe Social Media Act) that would create a Digital Safety Commission, impose duties on social media and AI chatbot services, require age verification with an under-16 social-media prohibition, and carry penalties up to 3–5% of global revenue — but the bill is only at first/second reading and Royal Assent is not expected before end-2026. In the meantime, Canada relies on Criminal Code provisions (including for CSAM and NCDII), the Mandatory Reporting Act for internet child pornography, and CRTC broadcasting rules under the Online Streaming Act 2023.
Key points
Bill C-34 (Safe Social Media Act) was introduced on June 10, 2026 in the 45th Parliament and would enact both the Digital Safety Act and Digital Safety Commission of Canada Act. It is at early reading stages, has not been referred to committee, and Royal Assent is not expected before end-2026.
Bill C-63, tabled February 26, 2024, would have created a comprehensive online harms regime with the Digital Safety Commission, Ombudsperson and Office, but died on the Order Paper when Parliament was prorogued on January 6, 2025 and was never re-introduced in that form.
Bill C-34 would require operators of regulated social media services to prevent under-16s from holding accounts and to implement 'adequate age-verification or age-estimation' measures that are 'effective' and 'privacy-protective', with verification data required to be destroyed after use — but this remains a proposal only.
The pending Digital Safety Act would impose content-moderation duties, require operators to publish digital safety plans and risk assessments, impose 24-hour takedown of CSAM and non-consensual deepfake intimate images with notice-and-appeal rights, and add specific duties on AI chatbot services (crisis intervention, no impersonation of humans).
Bill C-34 would create the Digital Safety Commission of Canada with over 30 regulation-making heads and enforcement powers including compelled testimony; proposed administrative penalties would reach up to CAD 10 million or 3% of global revenue, and criminal fines up to CAD 20 million or 5% of global revenue.
Pending C-34, online content is governed by patchwork tools: Criminal Code offences (including for CSAM and NCDII), the Mandatory Reporting Act for internet child pornography by ISPs, and the Online Streaming Act 2023 which brings streamers under CRTC oversight (contribution rules confirmed in Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2024-121, with CRTC 2026-96 issued May 21, 2026) — but none is an online safety / platform-liability regime.
Timeline - major decisions & events
The CRTC raised the base contribution rate for large foreign streaming services (Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video with $25M+ Canadian revenue) from 5% to 15% of annual Canadian revenues to fund Canadian and Indigenous content, intensifying a U.S. trade dispute and triggering Federal Court of Appeal challenges.
Global News ↗Prorogation of Parliament following PM Trudeau's resignation announcement killed the proposed Online Harms Act, which would have created a digital safety regulator and duties for platforms to address harmful content; it never became law.
Parliament of Canada (LEGISinfo) ↗Justice Minister Arif Virani moved to separate the controversial Criminal Code and Canadian Human Rights Act hate-speech amendments from the core Online Harms Act provisions, aiming to advance the platform-safety framework on its own.
Amnesty International Canada ↗Under the Online Streaming Act, the CRTC ordered online undertakings with $25M+ in annual Canadian revenue and not affiliated with a Canadian broadcaster to contribute 5% of revenues to funds supporting Canadian and Indigenous content, effective the 2024-25 broadcast year.
CRTC ↗The federal government tabled Bill C-63 to set a baseline duty for online platforms to protect users, especially children, from harmful content such as child sexual exploitation and content inciting violence, and to create a Digital Safety Commission.
Department of Justice Canada ↗The CRTC's first regulatory step under the Online Streaming Act required non-exempt online streaming services operating in Canada to register by November 28, 2023, and adhere to conditions of service, bringing internet broadcasters under the regulatory framework.
CRTC ↗The first major reform of the Broadcasting Act since 1991 brought streaming and online undertakings under CRTC jurisdiction, empowering the regulator to impose Canadian content and contribution obligations on internet platforms.
Government of Canada (Canadian Heritage) ↗CASL's commercial electronic message rules took effect, prohibiting unsolicited messages and unauthorized installation of computer programs, and empowering the CRTC to levy penalties up to $10M per violation, a foundational online-conduct enforcement regime.
CRTC ↗This law obliged internet service providers to report child sexual abuse material to the designated body (Canadian Centre for Child Protection) and notify police of suspected offences, establishing a core online child-protection duty.
Justice Laws Website (Government of Canada) ↗The Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act set ground rules for how private-sector organizations collect, use and disclose personal information in commercial activities, including online, Canada's foundational digital privacy framework, phased in through 2004.
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada ↗Canada - other topics
Internet & Online Safety in other countries
Last verified 8/18/2026 · Orientation, not legal advice - verify against the primary sources linked above. Methodology & how to cite · State of Technology Regulation 2026 · Explore the full world map →