Miller Says Ottawa Could Widen Bill C-34 to Gaming Platforms
Federal Identity Minister Marc Miller says he would consider widening the government's digital safety bill to cover online gaming platforms, as part of efforts to protect children from predators.
Miller made the comments in an interview on Friday. He said he would "absolutely consider" making changes to the bill through regulations to make gaming platforms safer for children. He also said he would listen to suggestions in committee, the stage where MPs study a bill clause by clause.
The bill, Bill C-34, is also known as the Safe Social Media Act. Reuters reported that Canada introduced it on June 10. It would require social-media companies to block users under age 16 from having accounts. Companies including Meta Platforms and Snapchat would likely be covered.
Companies could seek exemptions from the under-16 ban if they convince a new digital safety regulator, an agency the bill would create, that they have sufficient safeguards to protect children. The bill also covers AI chatbot services. The federal government says the legislation would require online platforms to be safe by design. It does not cover search engines.
Miller said gaming platforms would not be covered by the under-16 ban because they are not social-media platforms. The Globe and Mail reported his comments. Child protection advocates have raised concerns that platforms such as Roblox and Discord, which gamers use, are not covered by the bill and are being used for child exploitation.
Miller said he has met with gaming companies. He told them that failing to introduce safety features to protect children could make being regulated more likely.
