AI Chatbot Privacy Checklist for Canadian Families

Begin with the tool, account, and age rules

Confirm the exact service being used rather than relying on a familiar-sounding name or an unofficial copy. Read the provider’s minimum age and account requirements with your child. If an adult account is required, that does not automatically make every use suitable for a child.

Look for a plain-language privacy explanation. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada advises people to consider what information an AI chatbot collects, why it is collected, how it is used, and whether it may be used to improve or train systems.

Identify what should never enter the chat

Create a short family list and keep it beside the device during early use. Children should not enter passwords, addresses, phone numbers, school schedules, private health details, financial information, identification numbers, or private messages from another person.

Photos and documents can contain more information than they appear to. A school worksheet may show a full name or teacher. A photo may reveal a uniform, location, face, or home. Remove identifying details or use invented examples.

• Use a nickname or fictional character when a name is unnecessary
• Replace real schoolwork details with a made-up example
• Do not upload anyone else’s image or writing without permission
• Pause when the tool asks for information unrelated to the task

Check storage, history, and training controls

Find out whether chats are saved, how to delete them, and whether a setting controls use of conversations for product improvement or model training. Privacy controls change, so review them again after major product updates.

Use the smallest amount of information needed. Deleting a chat from the visible history may not mean every copy disappears immediately, which is another reason to avoid sharing sensitive data in the first place.

Set a shared-use routine

For children ages 9–13, begin with an adult nearby and a specific purpose: brainstorm three story settings, explain one math step, or compare two definitions. Review the prompt before sending and inspect the answer together.

Agree that the child will bring an adult in if the chatbot asks for secrecy, requests personal details, produces upsetting material, or gives advice about health, safety, money, or relationships.

Respond calmly to accidental sharing

If a child shares personal information, avoid blame. Stop the conversation, use available deletion controls, change any exposed password, and tell the affected person if the information belonged to them.

For a serious exposure, consult the service’s support and privacy contacts. Calm handling makes it more likely that children will ask for help promptly in the future.

Keep exploring

• Read the complete family AI safety guide
• Learn how children can check AI answers
• Review our privacy policy