# Bill C-16, Protecting Victims Act - sexual deepfake amendments to the Criminal Code

- **Jurisdiction:** Canada (CA)
- **Type:** Law · **Status:** In force · **Binding:** yes
- **Issued by:** Parliament of Canada (Department of Justice)
- **Proposed:** — · **Adopted:** 18 Jun 2026 · **Effective:** 18 Jul 2026
- **Obligations:** Prohibited uses, Penalties
- **Sectors:** Media, Consumer, Children
- **Penalties:** Up to 10 years' imprisonment on indictment for non-consensual distribution (or threats) of intimate images including sexual deepfakes.

## Summary
Expands the Criminal Code offence of non-consensual distribution of intimate images to cover sexual deepfakes, criminalises threatening to distribute such images, and raises the maximum penalty. Applies to individuals.

## Why it matters
Generative AI services should expect Canadian law-enforcement requests on sexual deepfakes and design safeguards accordingly.

## Source
[Department of Justice Canada](https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/csj-sjc/pl/c16/)
Checked against the source on 4 Oct 2026. Royal Assent 18 Jun 2026. Justice Canada: most provisions (including the sexual-deepfake and threat-to-distribute amendments) came into force 30 days after Royal Assent, on 18 Jul 2026; coercive-control and some victims' provisions come later.

## Cite
Bill C-16, Protecting Victims Act - sexual deepfake amendments to the Criminal Code. Parliament of Canada (Department of Justice). Status: In force. wheresthe.ai, https://wheresthe.ai/rule/ca-bill-c16-protecting-victims-act-deepfakes-2026/ (verified 4 Oct 2026).

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Canonical page: https://wheresthe.ai/rule/ca-bill-c16-protecting-victims-act-deepfakes-2026/ · Not legal advice.