Statement: National Child Day serves as a reminder we must act to protect children in digital spaces

Winnipeg, Canada — Children across Canada are sexually victimized and exploited online every day, often on popular online services used in households from coast to coast to coast.

On this National Child Day, we are reminded that safeguarding children requires attention to every space they inhabit — including the digital world. These online spaces were not designed with children in mind, and ensuring they can navigate it safely remains at the forefront of our work. There has never been a more urgent need for government action to ensure social media platforms and other online services are accountable for the safety of their most vulnerable users.

For 40 years, the Canadian Centre for Child Protection (C3P) has worked to help address these challenges. Through the operation of Canada’s national tipline, Cybertip.ca, and our many other child protection programs supporting victims, survivors, and their families — we continue to relentlessly push for change.

In solidarity with Canadian children and their families.