Canadian Identity Minister Marc Miller indicated he is open to expanding the scope of Ottawa’s proposed digital safety legislation to include gaming platforms, responding to concerns about their potential misuse by predators targeting children. The legislative initiative, known as Bill C-34, currently focuses on social-media companies and includes a proposed ban on users under the age of 16 from creating accounts, with exemptions possible if companies demonstrate sufficient safety measures to a new digital safety regulator.
Advocates for child protection have raised alarms that gaming platforms such as Roblox and Discord, where users can communicate widely—including interactions between children and adults—are not presently covered under the bill. These platforms have been cited as venues where child exploitation can occur. In recent comments, Mr. Miller acknowledged these concerns, noting that gaming platforms represent a “different beast,” with particular risks stemming from the ability of children to interact directly with adults.
Mr. Miller said he has engaged with various gaming companies and has stressed that failing to implement adequate safety features could prompt increased regulatory measures. “The more you start to behave in that way, the more you attract regulation,” he said. While emphasizing that many children enjoy gaming as a pastime—highlighting that his own children played Minecraft at a young age—he also acknowledged parents’ growing demands for government action to mitigate toxic features that may facilitate predatory behavior.
The minister pointed to existing features on some platforms, such as age-group messaging restrictions, as examples of how the industry can improve child safety. He expressed willingness to consider amendments to the bill through regulations or an order in council process that could bring gaming platforms under its purview. Potential measures discussed include reinforcing age verification protocols and enhancing parental control options.
The conversation surrounding Bill C-34 also referenced recent tragic events that underscore the urgency of addressing digital risks. Papers filed in the United States revealed that the shooter responsible for the February attack on a British Columbia school used Discord to coordinate the attack, as well as consulting an AI chatbot for advice. The bill also includes provisions aimed at regulating artificial intelligence chatbots to ensure they behave responsibly, especially those that simulate human conversation.
Industry perspectives emphasize the need for comprehensive coverage across digital spaces. Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, has expressed support for the under-16 user ban but advocates for its extension beyond major social-media platforms to include gaming services and smaller sites popular among children. Jill Briggs, Meta’s manager of public policy in Canada, stressed the importance of applying consistent standards across all platforms to prevent children from migrating to unregulated environments. She also recommended that criteria for exemption from the ban be codified within the legislation itself rather than deferred to later regulatory decisions.
Mr. Miller addressed these issues during a conference in Ottawa hosted by OpenMedia and the National Council of Canadian Muslims, reiterating that platforms would only qualify for exemptions by proving they maintain strong safeguards to protect children. He signaled an intent to set a high standard for safety measures under the new regulatory framework. The government is expected to continue consulting stakeholders as Bill C-34 advances through parliamentary committees.