B.C. premier to push for more protections for youth, after talking to dad of 12-year-old sextortion victim - Action News
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British Columbia

B.C. premier to push for more protections for youth, after talking to dad of 12-year-old sextortion victim

British Columbia Premier David Eby says an emotional conversation with the father of a 12-year-old B.C. boy who died by suicide after falling prey to online sextortion has prompted him to push for more protections for youth.

Father of Prince George boy chose to speak out to warn other families about online dangers

A boy between two adults in a posed photo.
Twelve-year-old Carson Cleland of Prince George, B.C., died in October 2023 after being sexually extorted online. His parents chose to make his story public in an effort to warn other caregivers and families about the dangers of online predators. (GoFundMe/Ryan Cleland)

WARNING: This story contains details about suicide.

British Columbia Premier David Eby says an emotional conversation with the father of a 12-year-old B.C. boy who died by suicide after falling prey to online sextortion has prompted him to push for more protections for youth.

Eby says the B.C. New Democrat government plans changes in the new year honouring the memory of Carson Cleland of Prince George, whom police said died in October after being victimized online.

The preteen took his own life on Oct. 12 and investigators have since determined his actions were in response to online sextortion, according to an RCMP news release. Police are still working to identify a suspect.

Sextortion is a practice of demanding money or sexual favours from someone by threatening to expose intimate images and videos of the victim, or other evidence of online sexual activity.

WATCH| Expert offers tips on talking to kids aboutdangers of sextortion:

Experts urge parents to talk to kids about dangers of online sextortion

9 months ago
Duration 2:20
RCMP say a 12-year-old boy in Prince George, B.C., died by suicide after being a victim of online sextortion. Mental health experts tell BC Today host Michelle Eliot that an open line of communication can provide a sense of safety as children process stories like these.

The premier says he spoke with Carson's father who told him that since their son's death, the family has been contacted by the families of three of his classmates, who said their children were also talking online with strangers.

Hisremarks come in a year-end interview, during which the premiersaid Carson's family are facing devastating loss this holiday season but demonstrated remarkable courage by going public with their tragedy.


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Corrections

  • In an earlier version of this story, the Canadian Press incorrectly reported that David Eby had said his office had been contacted by parents whose children had shared photos with strangers online. In fact, Eby had spoken with the father of Carson Cleland who told him families had contacted Cleland to say their children had also shared photos with strangers online.
    Dec 22, 2023 1:02 PM PT

With files from CBC News