Canada Enacts New Privacy Code for Children
The new regulation mandates that service platforms disable default location tracking and third-party data sharing.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Cybersecurity
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Canada has introduced its first children's privacy code, shifting the burden of online safety from parents to digital service platforms. The code mandates default settings for location tracking and third-party data sharing to be turned off while enabling children to request data deletion.
Why it matters
The policy represents a structural shift in digital governance, compelling platforms to proactively identify risks and submit to regulatory oversight. This move mirrors broader international efforts to harmonize digital transformation with the protection of young users.
The new regulatory framework requires platforms to disable default location tracking and data sharing with third parties, a significant change from standard opt-in-by-default industry practices. Platforms are now compelled to proactively identify risks and submit to regulatory supervision.
The players
Canada
A national authority implementing new regulatory requirements for digital service platforms to enhance children's privacy.
Vietnam
A nation developing a national digital transformation and cyber protection framework under Politburo Resolution No. 57.
The details
The code mandates that service platforms move away from passive data collection by requiring that location tracking and data sharing with third-party partners be set to off by default. Furthermore, it establishes a formal process for children to request the correction or deletion of their personal information. These measures shift the liability for safety from families to the digital platforms themselves, which must now implement risk-identification protocols to comply with oversight.
Timeline
December 22, 2024: Vietnam issued Politburo Resolution No. 57 regarding digital transformation.
October 20, 2026: Canada released its first children's privacy code.
October 25, 2026: Officials held a discussion in Hanoi on protecting children online.
The Tech Race
Canada's new code follows the trajectory of national digital frameworks like Vietnam's Politburo Resolution No. 57, which aims to secure digital spaces. These efforts highlight an international trend of nations asserting legal control over cross-border platforms to enforce safety standards.
Digital service platforms must immediately adjust their default privacy settings to align with the new Canadian code, impacting how data is shared and tracked. Users can expect improved control over their data footprint as platforms update their interfaces to enable formal correction and deletion requests.
The takeaway
The implementation of this code signals a move toward mandatory platform-side safety features rather than relying on parental manual configuration. Watch for Vietnam's upcoming integration of data protection awareness into school curricula as a secondary indicator of regional safety policy trends.
Further reading
For more on evolving digital protections, visit Cybersecurity.
Source note: This article includes information reported by VOV - VOV Online Newspaper.
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