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ARTICLE · 04 MAY 2026

OPC Releases Draft Age Assurance Guidance

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
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On May 4, 2026, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) released two draft guidance documents on “age assurance,” aimed at supporting safer and more age-appropriate online experiences for children...

CanadaPrivacy
Mallory Gallant
Mallory Gallant
Ellie Marshall
Ellie Marshall
Wendy Mee
Wendy Mee
Conor Alexander (Articling Student)
Conor Alexander (Articling Student)
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On May 4, 2026, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) released two draft guidance documents on “age assurance,” aimed at supporting safer and more age-appropriate online experiences for children while mitigating potential adverse privacy impacts. The Commissioner had previously shared preliminary positions on age assurance technologies as part of an exploratory consultation, which has informed the new draft guidance documents.

The draft guidance is open for public comment until August 4, 2026. Comments may be sent by email to [email protected].

What Is “Age Assurance”?

The OPC describes age assurance as processes used to determine a user’s age or age range (including age verification, age estimation and age declaration), often to prevent harm to children or to meet legal requirements for age-restricted content and services.

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