What Happened

Canada introduced a digital safety bill on June 11, 2026 banning social media for under-16s unless platforms meet safety standards. The bill also creates a digital regulator for AI chatbot safety, with penalties up to $7.2M or 3% of global revenue for non-compliance.

Who Is Affected

Major platforms named in the bill include Meta (Facebook/Instagram), Google (YouTube), X, and Snapchat. OpenAI faces scrutiny after being sued by families of mass shooting victims alleging ChatGPT was used in attack planning.

Market Impact

• Compliance teams will need to audit under-16 user verification systems
• AI vendors must implement new safety standards for chatbots
• Similar regulations are advancing in France, Denmark, Poland, and Greece

What to Watch

The bill may take 18 months to implement after passage. Monitor Meta and Google's responses as they've already engaged with regulators. Australia's precedent shows 5M teen accounts were deactivated post-ban.