News release
Commissioner Dufresne launches exploratory consultation on children’s privacy code
May 12, 2025 – Toronto, Ontario
Privacy Commissioner of Canada Philippe Dufresne today launched an exploratory consultation that will help inform the development of a children’s privacy code aimed at strengthening the protection of young people’s personal information in the digital world.
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) is inviting child advocacy groups, businesses, parents and guardians, educators and other interested parties to contribute their thoughts and ideas to ensure that the code reflects the best interests of children. Feedback received will also help to inform future work undertaken by the OPC in the area of children’s privacy.
This consultation builds on the OPC’s past work on children’s privacy such as the G7 Data Protection and Privacy Authorities’ Statement on AI and Children, as well as past resolutions jointly released with our provincial and territorial counterparts on the best interests of young people and deceptive design patterns.
The consultation will explore creating clear, practical guidelines for companies that handle children’s personal information. This will help them ensure that their products and services are designed with the highest standards of privacy and data protection in mind, and that they provide children with tools that will empower them to exercise their privacy rights.
Feedback may be submitted by email at cpvp-opcconsultation1@priv.gc.ca until the close of the consultation period on August 5, 2025.
The Commissioner launched the exploratory consultation during his keynote address at the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) Canada Privacy Symposium in Toronto.
The annual conference brings together privacy professionals from the public and private sectors, academia, civil society, as well as regulators from across the country, to discuss privacy protection issues of mutual interest and importance.
In his remarks, Commissioner Dufresne advocated for modernized Canadian privacy laws that advance the public interest and that foster a strong Canadian economy.
He also discussed an in-depth review of the OPC’s operational model that has led to a significant transformation of the Office’s structure and approach to compliance in order to maximize effectiveness and impact for Canadians with existing resources.
The Commissioner also outlined the work of his Office to advance his three strategic priorities: protecting and promoting privacy with maximum impact; addressing and advocating for privacy in this time of technological change; and championing children’s privacy rights.
Quote
“Championing children’s privacy is a strategic priority for my Office. The ultimate goal of this consultation and the resulting children’s privacy code is to create a safer, more transparent online environment for children, where they feel empowered to exercise their privacy rights, can safely explore, learn, and grow without compromising their privacy or security.”
Philippe Dufresne
Privacy Commissioner of Canada
Related links
- Call for comments – Exploratory consultation on the development of a children’s privacy code
- Children’s privacy code – Exploratory consultation Document
- Remarks by the Privacy Commissioner at the IAPP Canada Privacy Symposium 2025
Media contact
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
communications@priv.gc.ca
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