Advocacy groups focusing on the welfare of women and children are emphasizing the urgent need for the Canadian government to establish an online regulatory body in response to a surge of sexual deepfakes circulating on the social media platform X. Lloyd Richardson, the technology director at the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, stressed the necessity of regulatory measures within Canada to effectively address such issues. Similarly, Rosel Kim, a senior staff lawyer at the Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund, advocated for the creation of a regulatory entity similar to the one proposed by the Liberal government in 2024.
The proliferation of sexual deepfakes on X, particularly through Elon Musk’s platform, has sparked global outrage, with a significant focus on deepfakes targeting women and, alarmingly, children. While the technology for creating such deepfakes is not novel, the accessibility provided by X, allowing users to directly edit images using Grok, prompted swift restrictions, limiting the feature to paid users.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the enablement of deepfakes as “unthinkable behavior” and hinted at potential regulatory actions if necessary. In response to the situation, Malaysia and Indonesia have moved to block access to Grok, with a similar ban under consideration in the U.K.
Contrary to some international responses, AI Minister Evan Solomon clarified that Canada is not currently considering a ban on the platform. Musk, in acknowledgment of Solomon’s stance, expressed appreciation by sharing a post on X featuring the Canadian flag and a heart emoji.
The Liberal government had previously introduced the Online Harms Act in 2024, aiming to combat online victimization, including sexually explicit content and deepfakes. Although the bill did not pass before the 2025 election, discussions continue regarding legislation to address sexual deepfakes. Advocates stress the need for comprehensive measures beyond criminalization to effectively combat the issue.
Women and gender-diverse individuals have been disproportionately impacted by deepfakes, leading to self-censorship and restricted online participation. Experts highlight the need for a robust regulatory framework in Canada, similar to existing legislation in other jurisdictions, to provide support and protection for individuals facing online harms.