Canada’s main opposition parties are holding their cards close to their chests following the federal Liberal government’s introduction of sweeping new online legislation on Wednesday a bill that would, among other things, bar children under the age of 16 from social media platforms.
Neither the Conservatives nor the NDP have staked out firm positions on Bill C-34, with both parties signalling they need more time to review the proposal before committing to a stance.
A Conservative spokesperson confirmed the party is scrutinizing the legislation but stopped short of endorsing or opposing it. “Protecting children online is a top priority for Conservatives,” the spokesperson said, adding that the party intends to carefully assess the bill and engage parents and stakeholders to determine whether it does enough to shield young people without trampling on their privacy rights.
The NDP struck a similar tone. In a statement, party leader Avi Lewis said his caucus is examining whether the legislation genuinely gets to the root of online harms issues like the spread of misinformation and the sexual exploitation of minors and that experts are being consulted. But Lewis also flagged a particular concern about how any age verification system would actually work in practice.
“We cannot allow an age verification process to become yet another massive data grab for Big Tech,” the statement warned, pointing to the enormous volumes of personal data technology companies already collect from Canadians.
It’s a concern that cuts to the heart of a central tension in the bill: how do you verify someone’s age online without collecting sensitive personal information in the process?
Under the proposed legislation, social media platforms would not face an outright blanket ban on younger users. Instead, companies could apply for an exemption to the age restrictions if they demonstrate they have adequate safeguards in place. The bill also proposes the creation of a new federal digital regulator and would place a legal duty of responsible conduct on the companies behind AI chatbots a significant move as generative AI tools become increasingly embedded in daily life.
The tech giants themselves are also treading carefully. Meta and Google both said Wednesday evening that they were reviewing the legislation. TikTok, which has faced particular scrutiny over its young user base, offered a warmer reception, saying it looks forward to working constructively with the government on the issue.
Whether that collaborative spirit translates into genuine compliance or a prolonged lobbying effort to soften the rules remains to be seen. For now, all eyes are on Parliament Hill as lawmakers, parents, tech companies, and child safety advocates brace for what could be one of the most consequential digital policy debates in Canadian history.
