Canada is considering a law requiring strict age checks on social media platforms. However, this plan raises serious concerns for transgender and vulnerable online groups.

The government wants to require users to verify identity through government ID or facial recognition. This creates practical and safety problems, especially for transgender and non-binary people. Many still have official documents with their old name and gender. This outing risk makes platform participation dangerous. Facial scanning also causes problems: many systems recognize transgender faces less accurately.

Activists warn that young people will become less safe instead. Many LGBTQ+ youth rely on anonymous online spaces for support and information. Age verification would cut them off from these vital contacts. Additionally, privacy risks grow enormously: sensitive minor data gets stored and can be hacked.

The government claims it is about youth protection. Critics say this approach is thoughtless. They want alternatives that protect youth without endangering privacy and safety. Canada must now decide: age verification or truly protecting all youth, including transgender youth.