FederalBill C-288First Reading
Bill C-288: Protection Against Online Fraud Act
Sponsor: Melissa LantsmanIntroduced June 17, 2026Last checked August 28, 2026
Read the official text on parl.caOfficial version — LEGISinfo, Parliament of Canada
What this bill does
This bill requires online platform operators — including social media and gaming services — to take active steps to prevent fraudulent content, remove it when identified, and notify users who encountered it. It also makes targeting vulnerable people (based on age, health, or finances) an aggravating factor in identity theft sentencing under the Criminal Code.
Plain-language summary by Legisail.
Business impact
Compliance
This bill directly affects anyone who owns or operates an online platform or app accessible in Canada — think social media companies, online marketplaces, gaming platforms, or any internet-connected service where users share or interact with content. Whether you run a small community forum or a large video-sharing app, you'll need to build or update internal systems to detect and remove fraudulent content, notify affected users, keep detailed records of what was removed and who was notified, and publish regulatory reports. The compliance burden scales with platform size — a solo developer running a niche app faces the same legal duties as a large tech firm, with fines up to $1 million for violations. Businesses in the tech, social media, and online entertainment sectors across all provinces will need to review their content moderation processes and reporting infrastructure.
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Where this bill is
First ReadingJune 17, 2026
Next: Second Reading debate
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