The fundamental principle behind this act is to give more power to the people with respect to their data generally. When it comes to children, it's even going a step beyond. The example was given of a teenager who opens an account at some stage in her life. You become an adult at a certain point and you want to have that account removed. I think it's just fundamental, in my view, that you should be able to do that and not have to fight with the different platforms to do that. You should have the right to do so.
At my age, I didn't have a digital time in my life when I was a kid because that came afterwards, but the kids of today have a digital life starting sometimes very early. For me it's shocking, honestly. I sit here as a Canadian and as a stepdad to two girls and I just say, “Really?” If I wanted to force Facebook to delete something from when she was a teenager, or if a friend did something, I don't have the right. There's something shocking about that in my mind. That's why I'm so passionate about this bill. We need to act to better protect our children.
Even if, as an adult, you want to move your data.... You talk about innovation. Having the bank able to move your data.... It's your data. What we're saying is that it's your data. The right to move it and to manage it is yours. It's not like the company.... Having more power over your data to have it be deleted or be moved, I think it's going to spur innovation. Imagine if you could ask a company, “Just move my data to this other provider, because this is what I want. It's my data.”
I think it's a step forward.