Many jurisdictions around the world are taking steps to protect children and youth from harmful content online. One of the ways of protecting kids and youth online is by putting in place age restrictions for violent and explicit content. Age assurance systems can be mandated by law or regulation.
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) held an exploratory consultation on privacy and age assurance. The OPC takes the position that “it is possible to design and use age assurance in a privacy-protective manner.” The consultation asks what additional context they should be aware of, what complementary steps they should take and for comments on their preliminary views on privacy and age assurance.
The EFC’s brief to the OPC discussed the need to protect children and youth online, international precedent to establish age assurance and that age assurance is an essential tool that works alongside other positive practices.
Download the seven-page pdf.