Ottawa is being pushed to get tougher on AI-driven fraud. The Ontario government is calling on the federal government, headquartered right here in the capital, to introduce jail time and steep financial penalties for people who use artificial intelligence tools to scam Canadians.
What's happening
AI scams have exploded in recent years, with fraudsters using voice-cloning technology, deepfake videos, and AI-generated messages to impersonate loved ones, government officials, and even bank representatives. These scams have proven far more convincing than the clumsy phishing emails of the past, making it harder for everyday Canadians to spot the red flags before it's too late.
Ontario's push is aimed squarely at the federal government's criminal code and regulatory framework, which currently doesn't have specific provisions targeting AI-enabled fraud. The province wants Ottawa to close that gap with harsher, more targeted consequences, including potential prison sentences and significant fines for offenders caught using AI to defraud people.
Why it matters for Ottawa
As the seat of the federal government, Ottawa is where this kind of legislative change would actually take shape. Any new criminal code amendments or federal fraud regulations would be drafted, debated, and voted on right here in the nation's capital, putting local MPs and federal departments squarely in the spotlight.
