Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 12 JUNE 2026

Bill C-34 At A Glance: Canada’s New Digital Safety Act

Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Explore more from Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP

The Government of Canada has introduced a comprehensive legal framework intended to govern online safety, reduce harms resulting from online content, and establish transparency and accountability requirements for operators of regulated services such as social media sites, chatbots and other online services.

CanadaMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
John Salloum
John Salloum
Sam Ip
Sam Ip
Maryna Polataiko
Maryna Polataiko
François Joli-Coeur
François Joli-Coeur
Tina Saban
Tina Saban
Author LinkedIn connections

Key takeaways

  • Bill C-34 would enact a new Digital Safety Act (DSA) that covers three “regulated services”: social media, chatbot and online services.
  • Duties across operators include duties to protect children, to act responsibly and to be transparent.
  • Child-protection measures would include safety-by-design features and age-based restrictions.
  • Social media operators would be required to take down child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and non-consensually distributed intimate images (NCDII) within 24-hours.
  • The DSA would be among the first Canadian statutes to impose direct safety duties on operators of AI “chatbot services.”
  • Administrative Monetary Penalties (AMPs) up to the greater of $10 million or 3% of gross global revenue, and offences carry the potential for the greater of up to $20 million or 5%.

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

View source

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

Driverless Taxis Set To Hit The Streets Of Toronto

Waymo's autonomous robotaxis are coming to Toronto by 2028, marking the company's first international expansion. As driverless vehicles prepare to navigate Canadian winters and city streets, questions emerge about safety records, insurance liability, regulatory frameworks, and how self-driving technology will adapt to snow, ice, and complex urban conditions that differ dramatically from their Arizona origins.
CanadaMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Gluckstein Lawyers
Gluckstein Lawyers
Article

Fall Forecast: What To Watch In Canada’s Communications Sector

Canada's broadcasting, telecommunications, and satellite industries face significant regulatory changes this fall as Parliament advances key legislation. From the CRTC's implementation of the Online Streaming Act amid U.S. trade tensions to new lawful access requirements for service providers and the establishment of Canada's first space launch framework, these developments will reshape operational requirements across the communications sector.
CanadaMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Article

The Trade War Tit-for-tat Continues: United States Responds To Canada’s Retaliatory Surtaxes With New Tariffs And Import Prohibitions

Canada and the United States have escalated their trade war with new retaliatory tariffs and import prohibitions taking effect in September 2026. What specific goods are now subject to these measures, and how do the complex layers of tariffs interact to impact cross-border commerce? This comprehensive analysis breaks down the latest developments in the deteriorating Canada-U.S. economic relationship.
CanadaInternational Law
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Article

Canadian Prime Minister Announces ‘Productivity Mega Deduction’

Canada's new Productivity Mega Deduction permanently provides immediate expensing for a wide range of depreciable property and Canadian development expenses, dramatically expanding the scope beyond the previously announced Productivity Super Deduction. The measure aims to reduce Canada's marginal effective tax rate on new business investment to 6.4%, positioning it as the lowest among major economies and less than half the U.S. rate.
CanadaTax
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Article

Elbows Back Up: U.S. Section 338 Tariffs, Canada’s Retaliatory Surtaxes And The Current Tariff Landscape

As Canada and the United States escalate their trade dispute with new retaliatory tariffs, businesses face mounting compliance challenges across multiple sectors. This analysis examines the comprehensive tariff landscape affecting bilateral trade, including Canada's September 8, 2026 surtaxes on U.S. imports and the corresponding American section 338 tariffs, detailing rates, exemptions, and the legal frameworks governing these measures.
CanadaInternational Law
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP