'Ban criminal content on social media': Surrey’s mayor issues statement after shooting British Columbia shooting

Brenda Locke, Mayor of Surrey in British Columbia, Canada has issued an urgent appeal to Meta, X, TikTok and all other social media platforms to block violent content and stop allowing criminals to use their networks to spread fear and intimidation.Locke in a statement on X posted, "I am calling on Meta, X, TikTok, and other social platforms to stop allowing violent criminals to weaponize your networks against the people of Surrey."The appeal came after a recent shooting at a local business was brazenly recorded by an individual who then uploaded the footage while claiming responsibility for the attack. Mayor Locke condemned the act, saying it not only targeted the victim but was intended to terrorize the entire community."It is intolerable that legitimate news content is blocked on some social media platforms while videos glorifying violent crime circulate freely," her statement read. "Corporate responsibility and basic decency require immediate, decisive action."Mayor Locke visited Kap’s Cafe, the site of the incident, where she spoke with staff and customers who expressed growing fear for their safety. Calling for urgent reforms, Mayor Locke urged social media companies to permanently ban accounts linked to criminal organisations; immediately remove any content that promotes or glorifies violent crime and implement real-time detection tools to prevent such material from spreading.Locke added that criminal organisations should not be allowed to use social media for intimidating people and celebrate violence.She further emphasised that these steps are not optional but essential. The mayor said that keeping Surrey safe requires collective effort from residents and law enforcement to technology companies. She pledged continued cooperation with the Surrey Police Service, RCMP and federal authorities, while stressing that social media platforms must also take responsibility."We will not let criminals dictate how we live or work. I am confident that, together, we will keep Surrey safe, resilient, and unafraid," her post read.