Law Professor, Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law, University of Ottawa
www.michaelgeist.ca
Law Bytes Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/5iDUCcDrkzGai0OdTgoucv
http://mgeist.substack.com
Michael Geist
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First sign of a thaw on Bill C-22's metadata requirement: the government now says it is open to shortening the mandatory metadata retention period.
nationalnewswatch.com/2026/06/09/m...
Why is a kids’ social media ban bad policy? Does the ban actually work? Doesn’t polling show overwhelming public support for a ban? Why is mandated age verification a privacy risk? If the ban is “temporary,” why does it matter? If not a ban, then what?
The RCMP and CSIS at the committee table as witnesses during Bill C-22 clause-by-clause review. The Privacy Commissioner of Canada deliberately excluded by Liberal MPs. Pretty telling of the government’s view on striking a balance on lawful access.
www.michaelgeist.ca/2026/06/bill...
Conservatives have put forward a motion to allow the committee to split Bill C-22 so that Part 1 of lawful access can move quickly and allow more study of Part 2, which involves metadata retention and security issues. Motion being debated right now.
I’ve posted a long FAQ with everything you need to know about a kids’ social media ban. Key takeaway: it is an ineffective and harmful policy that raises privacy concerns for tens of millions of Canadians through mandated age verification requirements.
At an event where @rachelbendayan.bsky.social just said that a bill called the Digital Safety Act will be coming on Wednesday. Reports today indicate it will include a kids' social media ban. My post on the misguided policy.
www.michaelgeist.ca/2026/06/you-...
It took less than a week for the government to go from AI for All to ID for All. Reports of a social media ban for kids will require identification for all Canadians. There is no unwinding that data collection, and it is no replacement for effective regulation
www.michaelgeist.ca/2026/06/you-...
Can’t emphasize this enough as online harms bill coming this week: a “temporary” ban on social media for kids still requires ID for everyone and a regulatory infrastructure to enforce. Once in place with all its privacy risks, there is no turning back.
The Globe reports that online harms legislation is coming this week that includes a “temporary” social media for kids under 16. My post on why this effectively establishes mandated ID for all Canadians to use social media and AI and it won’t be temporary.
www.michaelgeist.ca/2026/06/you-...
I was happy to appear on CBC’s The Sunday Magazine this weekend as part of a panel discussing the government’s AI strategy, which touched on privacy, sovereignty, and economic impact.
The government is expected to table the Digital Safety Act on Wednesday with reports that it will include a ban on social media for those under 16, framed as a “temporary” measure that platforms can…
The government is expected to table the Digital Safety Act on Wednesday with reports that it will include a ban on social media for those under 16, framed as a “temporary” measure that platforms can…
The House of Commons public safety committee started its clause-by-clause review of Bill C-22 last week, the stage at which the lawful access bill’s actual statutory language is settled and the privac...
www.michaelgeist.ca
www.michaelgeist.ca
The Globe and Mail reports today that the government will introduce online harms legislation this week that includes a ban on social media for kids under the age of 16. The ban will be framed as a “te...
