The Globe and Mail reports in its Tuesday, Oct. 27, edition that Canadian Identity Minister Marc Miller is open to expanding Ottawa's digital safety bill to cover gaming platforms to prevent predators from targeting children.
The Globe's Marie Woolf writes that the bill mandates social media companies to block users under 16 from having accounts, though they can seek exemptions by proving adequate safeguards to a new digital safety regulator.
The proposed under-16 ban follows a similar move in Australia. Experts say many children have circumvented the ban in that country by migrating to smaller platforms that are not covered by their law.
The digital safety bill, known as Bill C-34, proposes new measures regulating artificial-intelligence chatbots, including a requirement for conversational bots that mimic human relationships to act responsibly.
Mr. Miller said the under-16 social-media ban would not cover gaming platforms, as they are "a different beast -- a menacing one at that."
Mr. Miller said certain gaming platforms "allow kids to interact with adults," which is a cause for concern. Mr. Miller has warned gaming companies that not adding safety features to protect children could lead to increased regulation.
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