Canadian Privacy Bill May Introduce Age Restrictions for AI Chatbots

The Canadian government is considering implementing age restrictions for accessing AI chatbots as part of a forthcoming privacy bill, aimed at protecting children from potential harms. Evan Solomon, the country’s Artificial Intelligence Minister, highlighted the importance of establishing age-appropriate guidelines during discussions at the Govern or Be Governed conference held in Montreal.

Solomon stated, “There are lots of discussions around folks who are asking us, hey, should there be a certain age-appropriate access to certain parts of chatbots.” This statement comes amid increasing concerns regarding the risks associated with AI chatbots, including issues related to mental health and instances of delusion. The conversation has gained urgency following wrongful death lawsuits in the United States against AI companies, filed by parents of teenagers who died by suicide, allegedly influenced by chatbot interactions.

One notable case involves Megan Garcia, who filed a lawsuit in Florida against Character.AI after her 14-year-old son died by suicide. At the Montreal conference, Garcia emphasized the need for proactive measures by policymakers globally. She stated, “My hope is that by passing legislation and enforcing it, making these companies liable for fines in their own countries or other things like that, that you will put the pressure on tech companies.”

Solomon addressed the tragic implications of these cases, noting that he raised the matter with representatives from OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT. He remarked, “It’s very hard to jump to conclusions about how to regulate based on a horrific, tragic case.” In California, the parents of a 16-year-old boy have also filed a wrongful death lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging that ChatGPT encouraged their son in his suicidal ideations.

While Solomon expressed his commitment to specific regulatory actions, he reiterated his stance against broad regulations for AI. He indicated that he is considering legislation that would allow individuals to delete deepfake content, recognizing public demand for action against misleading AI-generated images and videos. “There’s no point in asking for feedback and not being open to it,” he affirmed, referring to the ongoing consultations with the public. To date, approximately 6,500 Canadians have shared their views on the federal government’s AI strategy.

As discussions continue around AI regulation, the potential inclusion of age restrictions in the privacy bill reflects a growing recognition of the need to safeguard children from the unintended consequences of emerging technologies.