Sexual deepfakes on X highlight need for a Canadian online regulator

Advocates say a recent wave of sexual deepfakes on X has targeted women and some children and shows the need for a Canadian online regulator; the Liberal government's 2024 Online Harms Act would have created a digital safety commission but did not become law before the 2025 election.

Advocacy groups for women and children say a recent surge of sexual deepfakes circulated on the social platform X. They say the content has disproportionately targeted women and, in some instances, children. Those groups argue this pattern shows a need for a Canadian regulator with enforcement powers. Federal ministers and spokespeople have said the government is working on AI safety and governance, but specific timelines are not clear. What is known: - Advocates and legal experts report a wave of sexual deepfakes on X that they say has mainly targeted women and some children and prompted calls for regulation. - The Liberal government introduced the Online Harms Act in 2024, which would have created a digital safety commission and included a 24-hour takedown provision for intimate content; the bill did not become law before the 2025 election. - Officials have said work on an AI safety and governance framework continues and a separate bill introduced late last year would criminalize sexual deepfakes, but no timetable for new legislation has been announced. Summary: Advocates say the recent incidents have contributed to a chilling effect on people’s online participation and highlight gaps in services for those experiencing online harm. Undetermined at this time.