BC + AI backs  Hinton’s call for regulation.

June 27, 2025

BC + AI backs Geoffrey Hinton’s call for “regulations with teeth.” We’ll keep building open‑source, community‑driven AI in BC and push governments to pass iron‑clad guardrails that protect people, planet and culture.

1. Why this moment matters

Dr. Geoffrey Hinton just told Canada—again—that Big Tech will fight any “regulations with teeth” and that only massive public pressure will deliver the AI guardrails we need. He’s worried about everything from deep‑fake disinformation to job wipe‑outs and, yes, an existential “oops.” (betakit.com, timescolonist.com)

BC public opinion lines up with him:

  • 72 % of British Columbians are more concerned than excited about AI.
  • 55 % say government (not companies) must set the rules.

Our own Dialogue‑on‑Tech Symposium flagged the same gaps: low trust, patchwork policy, and the need for public‑first, ecosystem‑wide action.

2. Draft Position Statement (for press release, blog, council testimony)

Headline:

“Build the Future, But Bolt It Down—BC + AI Calls for Tough, Transparent AI Regulation”

Body (≈220 words):

“British Columbia’s AI movement was born in coffee shops, classrooms and co‑ops—not boardrooms. We love the crazy power of generative tools, but power without guardrails is just another extraction engine.

We echo Dr. Geoffrey Hinton: Canada needs regulations with teeth—now. That means binding rules, open audits and real penalties, co‑designed with Indigenous knowledge‑keepers, workers, artists and technologists.

We ask Ottawa and Victoria to:

  1. Pass and strengthen AIDA so every “high‑impact” AI system is safety‑tested and bias‑audited before launch.
  2. Mandate algorithmic transparency for any model used in hiring, housing, credit, health or policing.
  3. Create an AI Environmental Impact Registry—because data centres drink rivers.
  4. Fund community‑run safety labs in BC to stress‑test frontier models in the open.

BC + AI will keep mapping the mycelial network of creators building responsible tech here. But we refuse to carry water for companies that profit off opacity.

We’re rallying our 1 000‑plus members to show up at town halls, write MPs and prototype open‑source safety tools. Join us—because culture eats algorithms for breakfast, and the next course is legislation.”

3. Key Talking Points for Media & Panels

4. Policy Asks in Detail

  1. Pre‑market licensing for models >10 B parameters or used in critical infrastructure.
  2. Legally binding bias & safety audits conducted by accredited, publicly listed testers.
  3. Right to human override in any automated decision that affects health, liberty or livelihood.
  4. 5‑year public funding line for community safety labs (budget ask: $25 M) housed at BC universities and Indigenous innovation hubs.
  5. Data‑sovereignty guarantees aligning with OCAP® for Indigenous data.

5. What BC + AI Will Do Next

  • Town‑Hall Series: July–Sept 2025 in Vancouver, Kelowna, Prince George, and digitally for remote & Indigenous communities.
  • Open‑Source Audit Toolkit: Launch alpha on GitHub this fall—checklist, prompts and red‑team scripts.
  • Regulation Tracker: Notion dashboard monitoring AIDA amendments, provincial bills and global standards.
  • Coalition‑building: Convene union, environmental and civil‑society leaders to draft a shared “People’s AI Safety Charter.”

6. Social Snippets

X / Threads (280 chars)

🛠️⚡ “Build it and bolt it down.” BC + AI backs @geoffreyhinton’s call for regulations with teeth. We want open audits, Indigenous data rights, & pre‑launch safety reviews. Innovation ≠ exemption. #bcpoli #AIregulation #cdntech

LinkedIn (500 chars)

Dr. Geoffrey Hinton says Big Tech fears “regulations with teeth.” BC + AI agrees. We’re calling on Ottawa & Victoria to pass binding AI‑safety laws—while we prototype open‑source audit tools here in BC. Join the movement.

7. Call to Action

Sign our open letter, share your red‑team findings, or host a meetup in your town. Let’s turn BC’s DIY tech culture into a blueprint for regenerative, rights‑upholding AI.