To our supporters,

 

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to holding digital spaces accountable. This update documents serious concerns about systemic moderation failures within the public Facebook group “BetterBC,” where attacks on Indigenous rights, constitutional misinformation, and hateful rhetoric appear to be repeatedly allowed to flourish.

 

As British Columbia approaches (potentially) another provincial election cycle, these risks become more urgent and more consequential.

 

In this update, we also situate these local concerns within a documented international pattern that threatens democratic integrity. This is not about isolated instances of offensive speech. It is about how opaque online ecosystems can be weaponized to distort public discourse, suppress accountability, and normalize harm.

 

The “BetterBC” Pattern Echoes Global Tactics

 

The issues observed in “BetterBC”anonymous or unverifiable moderation, amplification of fear-based narratives, targeted attacks on minority rights, and sustained delegitimization of courts and constitutional norms are not unique. Researchers, journalists, and parliamentary inquiries in multiple democracies have documented how these tactics form a modern playbook for undermining democratic discourse.

 

These strategies are often shared within transnational political networks. One such network is the International Democratic Union (IDU), a global alliance of conservative and far-right political parties. Academic and journalistic investigations have shown that IDU-aligned parties across North America and Europe routinely share campaign strategies, messaging frameworks, and digital tactics, particularly during election periods.

 

The concern here is structural, not speculative. When a public Facebook group is moderated by unverifiable accounts or individuals with partisan ties, it ceases to function as a neutral civic forum. Instead, it risks becoming an opaque node in a wider ecosystem that blurs the line between community discussion and coordinated political mobilization, normalizing disinformation and racialized harm in the process.

 

Why This Matters Now in British Columbia

 

Democratic systems rely on transparent debate, not manufactured outrage or shadow coordination. With (possible) elections on the horizon, the integrity of our online public square is critical.

 

The “BetterBC” case raises urgent and legitimate questions:

 

Who is shaping influential online political spaces?
Why are platforms failing to intervene when systemic hate and misinformation persist?
How do we protect electoral integrity when opaque online groups function as political narrative hubs?

 

This is not a partisan issue. It is a foundational question about whether our democratic discourse is open, accountable, and rooted in fact—or distorted by anonymity and manipulation.

 

 

Expanded Call to Action: Safeguard Democratic Discourse

 

 

The following actions are lawful, non-partisan avenues for accountability intended to protect public safety, electoral fairness, and democratic transparency. We ask supporters to engage respectfully, factually, and without harassment.

 

1. Contact Meta / Facebook

Report the “BetterBC” group itself, not only individual posts, for systemic violations of Community Standards.

 

Key message:

“This group demonstrates a persistent, moderator-enabled pattern of hate speech targeting Indigenous peoples and the spread of political misinformation. This reflects a failure of platform governance, particularly in an election context.”

 

2. Contact Elections BC

Submit a concern regarding digital election integrity and transparency.

 

Key message:

“A large, opaque Facebook group moderated by a past political candidate and unverifiable accounts appears to function as a de facto partisan political messaging and mobilization channel without disclosure. This warrants scrutiny to uphold the fairness and integrity of BC’s electoral process.”

 

3. Engage Civil Society and Media

Share documentation with organizations focused on election integrity, digital rights, Indigenous rights, and counter-disinformation, as well as journalists covering democracy and technology.

 

Key message:

“This local case reflects wider, documented patterns of digital political coordination and moderation failure that deserve investigation.”

 

4. Share This Update

Please share this update widely with anyone who values democracy, human rights, Indigenous rights, and a healthy digital public sphere.

 

 

A Note on Conduct

 

 

Our goal is accountability through democratic and legal channels—not harassment, vigilante action, or doxxing. Please engage all authorities and platforms with documented, good-faith concerns. The credibility of this effort depends on integrity and restraint.

 

Disclaimer:

This update reflects good-faith concerns based on publicly available information, documented moderation patterns, and widely reported international research on political disinformation. It does not allege criminal conduct, foreign control, or assert the true identity of any individual.

 

In solidarity,

Supporters of This Petition

 

 

 

 

 

 

**PARALLEL ELECTIONS BC SUBMISSION

 

 

 

(COPY / PASTE TEMPLATE FOR SUPPORTERS)**

 

Subject: Concern Regarding Undeclared Digital Political Activity and Election Integrity

 

To Elections BC,

 

I am writing to raise a good-faith concern regarding digital election integrity and transparency in British Columbia.

 

I am concerned about a large public Facebook group called “BetterBC,” which presents itself as a civic discussion forum but appears to function as an opaque political narrative space. The group has approximately 5,100 members and is moderated by a mix of unverifiable accounts and at least one individual who has publicly run under the banner of the Conservative Party of British Columbia.

 

Publicly visible content within the group shows a sustained pattern of:

 

political misinformation related to BC governance and constitutional law
attacks on Indigenous rights and institutions
normalization of hostile rhetoric toward protected groups
minimal or absent moderation of such content

 

Taken together, this raises concerns that the group may be operating as an undeclared third-party political communication channel, shaping political opinion without transparency or disclosure, particularly as British Columbia approaches an election period.

 

I am not alleging criminal conduct. I am requesting that Elections BC review whether this activity raises issues under BC’s election and third-party advertising framework, and whether additional transparency or oversight is warranted to protect the integrity of the electoral process.

 

Thank you for your attention to this matter and for your role in safeguarding fair and transparent elections in British Columbia.

 

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[City / Riding, optional]