Government of British Columbia and Social Media Giants Collaborate on Agreement Regarding Unauthorized Intimate Images

The British Columbia government and social media giants have come together in what they describe as a “historic collaboration” to enhance youth safety online.

In a joint statement from Premier David Eby and representatives of Meta, Google, TikTok, X, and Snap Inc., the parent company of Snapchat, it was noted that their meeting focused on the crucial challenge of keeping young people safe on the internet, a concern shared by families, governments, and companies.

During their initial meeting earlier this month, the group discussed the need for broad cooperation, as online predators targeting children in B.C. often operate across multiple platforms.

These companies have pledged to provide B.C. with direct escalation channels to facilitate the swift reporting and removal of non-consensual intimate images online, even before a protection order is issued. This demonstrates their commitment to safeguarding privacy and encouraging responsible digital behavior.

The meeting follows the decision by the B.C. government to pause its online harms legislation last month in favor of engaging in discussions with the companies to find solutions for protecting safety and privacy online.

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They have agreed to continue emphasizing new measures to promote youth safety online at future meetings, recognizing the shared objective of ensuring teens have safe online experiences appropriate for their age.

Furthermore, discussions held included ways in which these companies can assist in disseminating official information during emergency situations such as wildfires.

Meta has committed to establishing direct communication channels to coordinate response efforts closely with the government’s wildfire safety initiatives, including the distribution of credible information from official sources like government agencies and emergency services.

This development follows Meta’s decision to ban news feeds on its Facebook and Instagram platforms last year in response to the government’s Online News Act, which required social media companies to pay news outlets for content shared on their platforms.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau criticized Meta recently for profiting while neglecting the well-being of the communities they serve by discontinuing news feeds.

While the statement does not indicate a reversal of Meta’s stance on allowing news on its platforms, it highlights the companies’ offer to support B.C. and crisis-response organizations with advertising to raise awareness of safety resources during the wildfire season.

The statement concludes by affirming a commitment to ongoing engagement and the announcement of further actions in September.

Mr. Eby previously cited the tragic case of Carson Cleland, a 12-year-old boy from Prince George, B.C., who died by suicide last October after being a victim of online sextortion, as a driving force behind the online harms legislation.

Carson’s father, Ryan Cleland, expressed his trust in Mr. Eby and the decision to halt the legislation last month.