Surrey, BC (Richa Walia): In the wake of a disturbing shooting incident at the popular Kap’s Café in Surrey, Mayor Brenda Locke has issued an urgent public appeal to major social media companies to take decisive action against the spread of violent criminal content online.
The shooting, which occurred earlier this week, was not only a physical attack but also a digital spectacle, as the alleged perpetrator filmed and posted the act online. Mayor Locke described the incident as a calculated attempt to instill fear across the community. “That fear is real,” she stated, recalling her visit to the café and nearby businesses where she spoke to frightened employees and customers.
In a strongly worded statement released on Saturday, Locke called on platforms including Meta, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok to implement sweeping changes to combat the glorification of violence.
“It is intolerable that legitimate news content is blocked on some platforms while videos glorifying violent crime circulate freely,” the Mayor wrote. “Corporate responsibility and basic decency require immediate, decisive action.”
She outlined a three-point action plan for social media platforms:
- Permanently ban accounts linked to criminal organizations.
- Promptly remove all content that promotes or glorifies violent crime.
- Deploy real-time detection and takedown tools to prevent such content from spreading.
Locke emphasized that these steps are not optional, but essential to public safety. She warned that social media platforms are increasingly being “weaponized” by violent groups to intimidate the public and recruit followers.
The mayor’s statement comes amid growing frustration with how tech companies moderate content. While some have taken steps to curb misinformation or hate speech, the viral spread of violent crimes continues to challenge platform guidelines and enforcement policies.
Mayor Locke assured Surrey residents that her administration is committed to working with local and federal law enforcement agencies, including the Surrey Police Service and the RCMP, to protect the city. However, she stressed that tech companies must now do their part.
“Surrey’s strength lies in our unity and our refusal to be intimidated. We will not let criminals dictate how we live or work,” she declared.
The shooting at Kap’s Café has prompted renewed calls for greater digital accountability in the face of real-world violence, with many hoping this incident will serve as a turning point in how online content tied to criminal activity is handled across platforms.
