A digital expert says B.C.91裸聊视频檚 recent agreement with Meta and other digital companies around protecting youth online 91裸聊视频減robably91裸聊视频� represents the 91裸聊视频渂est outcome.91裸聊视频� But parts of the political opposition see the agreement as a 91裸聊视频渂ackroom deal91裸聊视频� at the expense of local news.

Brandon Laur, CEO of The White Hatter, a digital literacy and internet safety education specialist company, said last week91裸聊视频檚 agreement with the digital media companies to speed up the removal of 91裸聊视频渘on-consensual intimate images91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频� so-called 91裸聊视频榬evenge porn91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频� allows government to see results faster.

91裸聊视频淲orking together is probably better than 91裸聊视频業 am going to sue,91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淗ow long did it take us to see changes with tobacco and now with pharmaceutical companies? That has taken years to deal with through the courts.91裸聊视频�

The agreement with X, formerly known as Twitter, Google, TikTok, Snap and Meta, the parent company of Facebook, emerged out of B.C.91裸聊视频檚 new online action table. The action table itself emerged after the B.C. NDP had placed Bill 12 91裸聊视频� the Public Health Accountability and Cost Recovery Act 91裸聊视频� on hold. The bill 91裸聊视频� which died last week with the end of the legislative session 91裸聊视频� would have allowed government to sue social media giants and other 91裸聊视频渂ig faceless corporations91裸聊视频� for 91裸聊视频渉urting people.91裸聊视频�

Government had modelled the law after legislation with which B.C. had sued tobacco companies, then later pharmaceutical companies.

But Laur pointed to legal experts, who have expressed skepticism about the ability to prove harm from social media.

91裸聊视频淭here are some predictable outcomes from that (consuming drugs), but measuring and quantifying harm from social media, that is way more difficult.91裸聊视频�

The agreement also speaks of government exploring 91裸聊视频渙pportunities for technology companies to help amplify official information for people in emergency situations like wildfires.91裸聊视频�

Meta, which blocks Canadian news from Facebook and Instagram because of the federal Online News Act, has also agreed to the 91裸聊视频渄issemination of reputable information available from official sources, such as government agencies and emergency services91裸聊视频� in case of wildfires. That agreement includes what government calls 91裸聊视频渁dvertising support91裸聊视频� from Meta and the other companies to amplify 91裸聊视频渁wareness of safety resources91裸聊视频� throughout the wildfire season.

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B.C. United91裸聊视频檚 Peter Milobar, MLA for Kamloops-North Thompson, an area that requently experiences wildfires, questioned that aspect of the agreement.

91裸聊视频淭his Premier, however, decided to sell out the local news industry to Facebook in a backroom deal in exchange for government advertising and a promise by Facebook to amplify NDP propaganda, conveniently in the months leading up to the provincial election,91裸聊视频� Milobar said.

That has real-world implications, because Meta91裸聊视频檚 on-going ban on local news continues to deny British Columbians, including current evacuees in the Fort Nelson area, access to local news posted via social media.

Eby has in the past complained about Meta91裸聊视频檚 block of local news and urged the company to re-consider.

Attorney-General Niki Sharma, meanwhile, defended the agreement against Milobar91裸聊视频檚 charges involving Facebook.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e doing that for people that are facing really stressful wildfire situations,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淲hen they need information 91裸聊视频� the Premier has been clear on this 91裸聊视频� we expect those platforms to deliver that information straight from the ministry. We91裸聊视频檙e going to continue to do that work. We91裸聊视频檙e very proud of it.91裸聊视频�

Laur acknowledged problems with Meta91裸聊视频檚 role in amplifying government messages, when it blocks out local news.

91裸聊视频淵es, it does make it that the government is the sole messenger,91裸聊视频� Laur said. 91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 the only story that goes through. If there (are) any competing challenges to the (government) messaging91裸聊视频�those contents and messages can91裸聊视频檛 be shared.91裸聊视频�

But Laur also tried to put things into perspective.

91裸聊视频淚 do see that there is a challenge, but on a balance of probability in terms of mitigating harm, I think getting warnings out to people is more important, especially evacuation orders, than any disagreements about government messaging that there might be.91裸聊视频�

The online action table will meet again in the fall and government has said that it always has the option of re-tabling the legislation, assuming re-election.