Stephen: Saskatchewan judge rules thumbs up emoji constitutes legal contract

One Canadian farmer is likely giving the thumbs down to a recent court ruling that will see him paying over $80,000 to a business associate. The business deal was proposed by a grain buyer in 2021 electronically, to which Chris Achter responded “👍”, a response that a judge in Swift Current, SK has ruled constitutes a legally-binding agreement. Months later, when the agreement was to be honoured, it was not as Achter had sent the thumbs-up only to indicate that he had received the terms, while the buyer, South West Terminal, argued that it indicated an agreement to the contract. Judge TJ Keene ruled in favour of the grain buyer, meaning Achter now has to pay up.