Advocacy organizations focusing on the welfare of women and children are emphasizing the urgency for the Canadian government to establish an online regulator in response to a surge in sexual deepfakes circulating on the social media platform X.
Lloyd Richardson, the director of technology at the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, stressed the necessity for regulations within Canada to effectively address such issues as they arise. Rosel Kim, a senior staff lawyer at the Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund, echoed this sentiment and called for the establishment of a new regulatory body similar to the one proposed by the Liberal government in 2024.
The recent proliferation of sexual deepfakes on Elon Musk’s platform X, orchestrated by the chatbot Grok, has sparked a worldwide outcry. These deepfakes have predominantly targeted women and, in some instances, minors.
Although the technology to generate sexualized deepfakes is not novel, X made it easily accessible by allowing users to manipulate images directly on the platform using Grok. This feature has since been restricted to paid users.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the facilitation of deepfakes as “unthinkable behavior” and cautioned that Europe would take action if Silicon Valley fails to act. Malaysia and Indonesia have announced plans to block access to Grok, and the U.K. is also considering a ban.
Canadian AI Minister Evan Solomon confirmed that Canada is not currently contemplating a ban. This decision was commended by Musk, who expressed support for Canada on X by sharing a post featuring the Canadian flag and a heart emoji.
The Online Harms Act, introduced by the Liberal government in 2024, aimed to combat online harms, including sexual exploitation and non-consensual intimate content like deepfakes. The legislation proposed a 24-hour takedown provision for harmful content and the establishment of a digital safety commission. However, the bill did not pass into law before the 2025 election.
While a government bill was introduced to criminalize sexual deepfakes, advocates argue that more comprehensive measures are required. Discussions are underway with allied governments and Canadian departments to address the issue.
The prevalence of deepfakes has silenced many women and gender-diverse individuals, leading to self-censorship. The lack of effective solutions has forced some to make their accounts private. There is a pressing need for governments to address this gendered issue and provide adequate support and legislative protection.
Jurisdictions like the EU, the U.K., New Zealand, and Australia have implemented online safety legislation and support services for cyber abuse victims, unlike Canada. The absence of specific avenues for assistance underscores the urgent need for legislative and social service improvements in Canada.