BC suspends online harms bill after social media settlement

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VICTORIA – BC has put its proposed online harms legislation on hold after reaching an agreement with social media companies to “sit down in good faith” to find solutions to keep people safer online.

Premier David Eby said the proposed legislation remains and the province will revive it into law if necessary.

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“The agreement we have reached with these companies is that we are going to act quickly and effectively, and that we need significant results before the end of this government’s term, so if it is necessary for us to present the bill then we will do so.” Eby said Tuesday after making an announcement at a dairy plant in Abbotsford.

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His comments came after a joint statement was released from the Prime Minister and companies Meta, TikTok, X and Snap saying they will form an online safety action table, where they will discuss “tangible steps” to protect people from online damage.

“Our hope is that we will be able to reach meaningful solutions to a number of concerns we have about children’s interactions with these apps collaboratively around the table, ensuring British Columbia’s children are protected,” Eby said. “And that’s what those companies say they want to do with us.”

The announcement to suspend the bill is a sharp turn for Eby’s government, after the prime minister announced in March that social media companies were among the “evildoers” who would pay health-related costs linked to their platforms in the proposed legislation.

At the time, Eby compared the harms of social media to those caused by tobacco and opioids, saying the legislation was similar to previous laws that allowed the province to sue companies that sold those products.

Eby said during the announcement of the original legislation that one of the key drivers of a bill targeting online harms was the death of Carson Cleland, the 12-year-old Prince George boy who committed suicide last October after being victim of online sextortion.

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“In the real world, we would never allow a company to set up a space for children where they can invite adults to contact them, encourage them to share photos, and then threaten to distribute those photos to their family and friends,” Eby said. when announcing the legislation.

The prime minister previously said businesses would close and their owners face jail terms if their products were linked to harm to young people.

Eby said Tuesday that Meta reached out to the province and that discussions resulted in “Facebook’s assurance” to also work with BC emergency officials to deliver and amplify public information in the event of natural disasters like wildfires.

“I think it’s fair to say I was very skeptical after initial contact,” Eby said. “And one of the things we asked for was, ‘Look, we need to be confident that if we’re going to sit down together, that this is going to be a meaningful exchange, that there are going to be real changes on the ground, that British Columbians can feel my commitment to the Clelands.”

BC United Opposition Leader Kevin Falcon said in a statement that his party pressured Eby’s government to change course, noting that the legislation’s vague language on who the province can sue “would have had serious consequences.” desired” for local businesses and the economy.

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“The government’s latest withdrawal is not only a victory for the business community but also for all British Columbians who value fairness and clarity of the law,” Falcon said.

The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade said they are pleased to see the legislation put on hold, given the “potential ramifications” of the proposal’s “expansive interpretation.”

“We hope the government decides not to implement Bill 12 in the future,” board president and CEO Bridgitte Anderson said in a statement. “Instead, we would welcome the opportunity to work with the government to develop well-targeted and effective measures, ensuring they protect British Columbians without causing unintended consequences.”

Eby said suspending the online harms bill is part of the agreement with social media companies.

“They also understand that the bill is still there and that I can come forward if necessary,” he said. “Our hope is that we can make changes that make a difference right now for children and families.”

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