Is what you’re watching AI? You have the right to know, says House committee

Canadians should know if a social media post, television show or any other content was made by artificial intelligence (AI), according to a new report from the House heritage committee. The report, introduced on April 14, was the culmination of the committee’s study on how AI could impact Canada’s creative industries. Among the group’s 13 recommendations is a call for Ottawa to require all AI-generated content to be “clearly identified as such through standardized labelling mechanisms.” “This requirement should apply across all relevant sectors, including digital platforms, broadcasters, public institutions and cultural organizations,” wrote the committee, which consists of Liberal, Conservative, and Bloc Québécois MPs. The report suggested a labelling system is necessary to promote transparency and maintain public trust. MPs also recommended the federal government bring forward a framework to guide new labelling measures, which should clearly differentiate when content is "co-created by humans.” More than 71 per cent of images posted on social media are AI-generated, according to data reported by Forbes, and AI software is increasingly being used by companies to produce television commercials. The committee recommendations were based on testimony from several witnesses, including AI researcher Dave Anctil, who said labels were needed to ensure the public can “at least make an informed judgment about music and audiovisual content” generated by AI. Michael Geist, a professor at the University of Ottawa and Canada Research Chair in internet and e-commerce law, also highlighted the need for a labelling system, emphasizing the importance of protecting against misinformation. Other stakeholders, including the Motion Pictures Association of Canada, cautioned Ottawa against introducing a universal labeling system, warning of possible conflicts with “freedom of expression” and a negative impact on the viewer’s experience. As is customary, the committee requested a response from the government. The Wire Report reached out to Canadian Identity Minister Marc Miller’s (Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Sœurs, Que.) office for the government’s reaction to the report, but did not receive an immediate response. The CRTC also did not respond to a request for comment. AI companies need consent to use copyrighted work: committee The committee also called on the government to enforce copyright protections and safeguard peoples’ work from AI companies looking to feed data into large language models (LLMs). Among other things, MPs said Ottawa should create a “clear opt-in consent requirement” for AI companies looking to train LLMs on copyrighted work, which would limit unauthorized text and data mining (TDM) — a significant concern for Canada’s cultural industries. Other jurisdictions, like the European Union, have adopted an ‘opt-out’ approach to TDM, which allows AI companies to use copyrighted work as long as rightsholders don’t object. This idea was endorsed by various committee witnesses, including Geist, who said it would allow Canada to remain “globally competitive” and receptive to AI opportunities. However, many cultural leaders rejected the ‘opt-out’ notion to TDM rules, with Alain Strati, senior vice-president at the Canadian Media Producers Association, telling MPs it would “authorize what is now unlawful, the mass ingestion of copyrighted material without credit, consent or compensation.” Meanwhile, entertainment lawyer Chip Sutherland said an ‘opt-out’ mechanism would be a legal anomaly. “The idea of opting out is bizarre in that it’s a property right. You own it. You shouldn’t have to opt out,” Sutherland told committee members. “When I come home at night, I don’t expect someone to be watching the Jays game on my television in the living room, saying, ‘you didn’t opt out of me living in your living room….’ I don’t have to opt out of the property I own, why should an artist have to opt out? They should have to opt in and be compensated for it.” Currently, Canada does not have an exception for TDM, which effectively protects copyrighted content. Earlier this year, Miller told The Wire Report changes to copyright legislation “may” be needed to adapt to challenges posed by AI, but he more recently said there was no pressing need to amend the Copyright Act. The heritage committee also recommended that the newly-created advisory council on AI explore the introduction of a “threshold of human intervention” to determine whether AI-assisted work could be granted copyright. Conservative MPs issued a supplementary report to the committee’s dispatch. It did not directly address labelling or copyright questions, but emphasized that “AI offers opportunity for Canadians” and “overregulation poses a risk to Canada’s success in AI.” The Liberal government is expected to introduce its highly-anticipated AI strategy in the coming weeks. dlegree@thewirereport.ca

Is what you’re watching AI? You have the right to know, says House committee

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By Davis Legree
|April 14, 2026

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Is what you’re watching AI? You have the right to know, says House committee

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By Davis Legree
|April 14, 2026