Federal Government Proposes New Law to Regulate Artificial Intelligence Systems

On June 16, 2022, the federal government introduced Bill C-27, the Digital Charter Implementation Act, 2022 (Bill C-27 or Bill). If passed, the Bill would significantly reform federal private-sector privacy law. It would also introduce rules to regulate "high-impact" artificial intelligence (AI) systems under a new Artificial Intelligence and Data Act (AIDA). Like the EU's recent proposal, the AIDA would take a harm-based approach to regulating AI by creating new obligations for yet-to-be-defined "high-impact systems." Below we provide an overview of the new proposal to regulate AI systems. Be sure to read our companion Blakes Bulletin on Bill C-27's proposals to reform private-sector privacy laws.