Canadian law and platform use

DRAFT FOR MANUAL LEGAL REVIEW — NOT LEGAL ADVICE. Last drafted October 2026.

Canadian criminal law includes offences concerning obtaining sexual services for consideration, material benefit in certain circumstances, procuring and advertising sexual services. Criminal Code section 286.4 addresses knowingly advertising an offer to provide another person's sexual services. Section 286.5 contains limited immunities, including circumstances involving advertising one's own sexual services; it is not a general platform exemption.

No listing may involve a minor, trafficking, coercion, exploitation, non-consensual content, another person's services without lawful authority or unlawful purchase solicitation. This summary is incomplete and not legal advice. The operator must obtain Canadian legal advice on the directory, paid placements, moderation, payments and communications before accepting adult-service advertisements.

Official references: https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-46/page-43.html and https://canada.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/c36faq/index.html