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B.C. Green Party Leader Emily Lowan announced a plan to regulate artificial intelligence and limit its risks
Published 1:30 pm Friday, October 2, 2026Emily Lowan says AI safety rules should be in place before new systems are introduced in B.C. The B.C.
Greens are proposing a province-wide moratorium on artificial intelligence data centres and new safeguards for AI use in schools, workplaces and online platforms. Party leader Emily Lowan announced the proposals in Victoria, as part of the Greens’ AI and technology platform, which calls for greater oversight of the technology’s effects on public safety, privacy, workers and the environment.
The proposed moratorium would pause the construction and operation of AI data centres until a public-interest audit is completed and an appropriate regulatory framework is established.
“We are concerned about these stranded assets, and most immediately we are concerned about the impact to our hydro system,” Lowan said in an interview. Lowan said data centres require substantial amounts of electricity and raised concerns about the implications for B.C. ’s electricity supply. The proposed platform also calls for an independent AI oversight commission, developed in collaboration with the federal government, to ensure new AI systems are tested for safety before being used in B.C.
The Greens are also proposing a moratorium on AI use in kindergarten to Grade 12 classrooms while the province develops guidelines for safe and ethical use. The plan includes privacy protections, safeguards and digital literacy support for educators. Another proposal would require social media platforms to offer users an accessible option to opt out of algorithmically curated feeds and instead see content from accounts they follow.
The platform also calls for legislation within the first 100 days of a Green government to prohibit retailers from using consumers’ personal data to set individualized prices, a practice known as surveillance pricing. The party further proposes banning AI-powered worker surveillance at job sites and developing a labour market strategy to address job displacement caused by automation.
The announcement comes amid scrutiny of AI companies following reports about the use of ChatGPT by the person responsible for the February 2026 mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge. Asked whether stronger AI safeguards could help prevent similar tragedies, Lowan said the focus should be on establishing regulations and accountability before harm occurs.
“Partly that requires a government who’s willing to hold corporations accountable, not just after the fact, but building the systems in place to prevent these tragedies before they happen,” she said. The Greens also want to strengthen B.C. ’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act by requiring privacy-impact assessments when AI is used, disclosing when AI contributes to government decisions and allowing people to challenge or correct AI-assisted decisions. Lowan criticized the B.C.
NDP government for moving faster on AI adoption than regulation. The party’s proposals would require provincial and federal action in several areas, including AI oversight and social media regulation. The Greens say their plan is intended to establish safeguards as AI technology expands across public services, education, workplaces and everyday life.
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