B.C. has formed an online safety group with four social media companies to work towards increasing online safety for kids.
David Eby, B.C.’s premier, released a statement along with Meta, TikTok, Snap and X announcing the BC Online Safety Action Table. Meta is the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, Threads and WhatsApp. Snap is the company behind Snapchat. X is formerly Twitter.
BC Online Safety Action Table will bring together experts, parents, technology companies and government to discuss ideas on how to increase online safety for kids.
“The Province will place Bill 12 on hold as we convene the first meeting of the table to discuss the tangible steps we can take to help ensure British Columbians have safe, empowering experiences online,” the joint statement between the five parties says. “Through this work, kids will be better protected from online harms before they happen.”
This discussion comes one month after B.C. had introduced Bill 12, the Public Health Accountability and Cost Recovery Act.
Bill 12 aimed to hold companies accountable for the costs associated with promotion, marketing and distribution of products that are harmful to adults or children in B.C.
“When the Province first announced it would be pursuing public-harms legislation, Premier David Eby stood with the parents of Carson Cleland. Carson was deceived by an online predator, tormented and sexually extorted. He took his own life before his parents were aware of what was happening,” the joint statement says.
“Premier Eby made a promise to Carson’s parents that his government would find ways to make sure Carson left behind a legacy that will help protect other young people. Helping young people stay safe online is one of the most important challenges facing families, parents and social media companies today.”
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“Our commitment to every parent is that we will do everything we can to keep their families safe, online and in our communities,” the statement says.
Laura Brougham
