New report says youth should help guide Ottawa’s campaign against online harms

By Canadian Press on February 18, 2026.

OTTAWA — Advocates say the federal government should listen to young people as it takes on the problem of online harms.

The John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights says in a new report today, that current systems aren’t protecting young people in digital spaces.

The group and youth representatives are holding a joint press conference on Parliament Hill today to present the report.

The report says young people are experiencing sexual exploitation and technology-facilitated gender-based violence, discrimination and exploitation online, among other harms.

It calls on the government to establish a youth digital safety advisory council that would have input in federal legislation, regulation and policy.

The Liberal government plans to introduce legislation to address online harms after a bill, introduced by the previous Liberal government, failed to become law.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 18, 2026.

Anja Karadeglija, The Canadian Press