Surrey’s mayor demands social media giants remove violent crime videos, ban criminal accounts, and protect public safety online.
Mayor Demands Social Media Giants Stop Amplifying Crime
Surrey, B.C. — In a bold and urgent appeal, Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke is calling on major social media platforms to take immediate action against the spread of violent criminal content. Her plea comes after a chilling shooting video, posted by someone claiming responsibility for the attack, made the rounds online before it was taken down.
A City Shaken by Fear
The disturbing footage showed a shooting outside a local business and spread quickly across platforms like Meta, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok. Although it was eventually removed, the damage had already been done.
“This wasn’t just an attack on one person,” Locke said. “It was meant to send a message—a message of fear that now echoes through our entire community.”
She recalled her visit to Kap’s Cafe, where business owners and customers, once excited about the vibrant atmosphere, now speak in whispers of worry. “That fear is real,” she emphasized. “I felt it firsthand.”
A Blistering Critique of Big Tech
Locke did not hold back in her criticism of social media giants. She condemned the platforms for allowing criminal groups to spread fear and violence unchecked, while often blocking legitimate news content.
“Corporate responsibility and basic decency should not be optional,” she said. “Yet, while news is restricted, criminals are using these platforms like digital megaphones—to recruit, threaten, and glorify brutality.”
Three Key Demands from Tech Companies
To stop the cycle, Locke laid out clear steps for social media companies:
Ban permanently any accounts tied to criminal organizations.
Remove content that promotes, supports, or glorifies violence.
Launch real-time detection tools to remove harmful material before it spreads.
“These aren’t suggestions,” Locke warned. “They’re necessary measures. We need a true partnership—between residents, businesses, police, and the very tech platforms that shape public conversation.”
A Call for Digital Responsibility
Mayor Locke’s message is crystal clear: the digital world can no longer be a safe haven for those who peddle fear and violence. If tech platforms want to be part of the community, she argues, they must also help protect it.
And for the people of Surrey, that change can’t come soon enough.
