Canada’s federal government announced in Thursday’s budget a $176.3 million allocation over five years for the creation of the Digital Safety and Data Protection Commission of Canada (DSDPCC). This independent regulator will oversee private-sector privacy regulation under Bill C-36 and implement the Safe Social Media Act, which aims to hold social media and chatbot platforms accountable for online harms.
The DSDPCC will have the authority to impose rules and transparency requirements on companies operating social media or AI chatbots, issue binding orders, compel audits, and fine companies up to $10 million, or three percent of their global revenue, whichever is higher. AI Minister Evan Solomon described it as “a regulator with teeth.”
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The legislation the DSDPCC is tasked with overseeing has drawn criticism from some in the tech community, academia, and elsewhere over its broad mandate, its ability to deliver on goals around age-verification and online safety for youth, and its potential to increase digital surveillance and infringe on privacy rights. The budget was sparse on details regarding the commission’s rollout or operational timeline, though funding will begin this year.