Canada seeks stronger privacy rights through new digital governance law
New legislation in Canada strengthens children’s privacy and accountability for data-driven technologies.
The Canadian government has introduced the Protecting Privacy and Consumer Data Act, a major legislative proposal designed to modernise the country’s private-sector privacy framework and strengthen protections in an increasingly AI-driven digital environment.
According to the government, Canada’s existing privacy legislation was developed more than 25 years ago and no longer reflects technological realities such as AI, automated decision-making systems, deepfakes and the large-scale collection of children’s data.
The proposed law seeks to address those challenges by establishing stronger rights for individuals and clearer obligations for organisations.
The legislation would recognise privacy as a fundamental right, strengthen protections for children’s data, require meaningful consent for the collection and use of personal information, and introduce greater transparency around automated decision-making.
Canadians would also gain the right to request the deletion of their personal information and benefit from enhanced safeguards when their data is transferred outside Canada.
The proposed framework would be overseen by a newly established Digital Safety and Data Protection Commission of Canada.
The regulator would have authority to issue binding orders and impose significant penalties on organisations that fail to comply with privacy requirements. The government describes the legislation as a key component of its recently launched national AI strategy, aimed at strengthening trust in digital services, data-driven innovation and emerging technologies.
Why does it matter?
The proposed legislation represents one of Canada’s most significant privacy reforms in decades and reflects a broader international trend of updating data protection frameworks for the AI era. As AI systems, automated decision-making tools and digital platforms become more deeply embedded in everyday life, governments are seeking stronger safeguards for personal data, transparency and accountability.
The bill also signals a growing convergence between privacy policy and AI governance. By introducing stronger protections for children’s data, new rights for individuals and greater oversight of automated systems, Canada is positioning privacy as a key foundation for public trust in digital services and emerging technologies.
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