Centre for Media, Technology & Democracy
@mediatechdemocracy.bsky.social
Our organization examines how media and emerging technologies shape democracy. We’re housed at McGill University’s Max Bell School of Public Policy, and led by Taylor Owen.
2025 was a pivotal year for AI. As attention turns to 2026, Founding Director at the Centre, @taylorowen.bsky.social, says we're approaching a turning point.
As a leading expert on how AI and digital tech are reshaping democracy, here are his top 5 AI predictions for 2026. 🧵
As a leading expert on how AI and digital tech are reshaping democracy, here are his top 5 AI predictions for 2026. 🧵
January 9, 2026 at 8:45 PM
2025 was a pivotal year for AI. As attention turns to 2026, Founding Director at the Centre, @taylorowen.bsky.social, says we're approaching a turning point.
As a leading expert on how AI and digital tech are reshaping democracy, here are his top 5 AI predictions for 2026. 🧵
As a leading expert on how AI and digital tech are reshaping democracy, here are his top 5 AI predictions for 2026. 🧵
At #AttnGovernOrBeGoverned, Prof. Fen Osler Hampson (@carleton.ca) shared new insights from the Carleton–CIGI–Ipsos Trust in the Internet Global Survey. The data show growing global concern about online privacy and sharply divided trust in AI across regions and types of AI. 🧵
January 5, 2026 at 9:17 PM
At #AttnGovernOrBeGoverned, Prof. Fen Osler Hampson (@carleton.ca) shared new insights from the Carleton–CIGI–Ipsos Trust in the Internet Global Survey. The data show growing global concern about online privacy and sharply divided trust in AI across regions and types of AI. 🧵
At #AttnGovernOrBeGoverned, @justinhendrix.bsky.social (@techpolicypress.bsky.social) spoke with @milestaylor.bsky.social (former Chief of Staff, U.S. Department of Homeland Security) about the erosion of democratic guardrails and the expanding capacity of executive power in the United States. 🧵
December 19, 2025 at 4:57 PM
At #AttnGovernOrBeGoverned, @justinhendrix.bsky.social (@techpolicypress.bsky.social) spoke with @milestaylor.bsky.social (former Chief of Staff, U.S. Department of Homeland Security) about the erosion of democratic guardrails and the expanding capacity of executive power in the United States. 🧵
This summer, David Suzuki received attention for his iPolitics interview titled: “‘It’s too late’: David Suzuki says the fight against climate change is lost.” This shift in tone led us to ask: Are Canadians Climate Doomers? @chrispyross.bsky.social 🧵
December 17, 2025 at 6:54 PM
This summer, David Suzuki received attention for his iPolitics interview titled: “‘It’s too late’: David Suzuki says the fight against climate change is lost.” This shift in tone led us to ask: Are Canadians Climate Doomers? @chrispyross.bsky.social 🧵
At #AttnGovernOrBeGoverned, @vassb.bsky.social (Managing Director, @canadianshieldinstitute.ca) asked Marcus Bokkerink (former Chair of the UK Competition & Markets Authority) and @lutherlowe.bsky.social (Head of Public Policy, Y Combinator), what does successful digital market regulation look like?
December 11, 2025 at 6:40 PM
At #AttnGovernOrBeGoverned, @vassb.bsky.social (Managing Director, @canadianshieldinstitute.ca) asked Marcus Bokkerink (former Chair of the UK Competition & Markets Authority) and @lutherlowe.bsky.social (Head of Public Policy, Y Combinator), what does successful digital market regulation look like?
Some jurisdictions have started regulating AI-enabled fraud. @taylorowen.bsky.social asked @ginasue.bsky.social (Minderoo Centre for Technology & Democracy, Cambridge) and Mediodecci Lustarini (Directorate General of Digital Space Monitoring, Indonesia) what Canada can learn from these models. 🧵
December 5, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Some jurisdictions have started regulating AI-enabled fraud. @taylorowen.bsky.social asked @ginasue.bsky.social (Minderoo Centre for Technology & Democracy, Cambridge) and Mediodecci Lustarini (Directorate General of Digital Space Monitoring, Indonesia) what Canada can learn from these models. 🧵
How do fraudsters get away with AI scams? In our second panel, guests Iesha White (Director of Intelligence, @checkmyads.org) and @craigsilverman.bsky.social (Journalist and Misinformation Expert) joined Moderator @davidreevely.bsky.social (@thelogic.co) to answer this question. 🧵
December 5, 2025 at 12:40 AM
How do fraudsters get away with AI scams? In our second panel, guests Iesha White (Director of Intelligence, @checkmyads.org) and @craigsilverman.bsky.social (Journalist and Misinformation Expert) joined Moderator @davidreevely.bsky.social (@thelogic.co) to answer this question. 🧵
In our first panel, moderator @vassb.bsky.social (Managing Director, @canadianshieldinstitute.ca) spoke with @profjquaid.bsky.social (Professor in the Civil Law Section, University of Ottawa) how advertising technology is reshaping competition, value chains, and sovereignty in Canada. 🧵
December 4, 2025 at 11:17 PM
In our first panel, moderator @vassb.bsky.social (Managing Director, @canadianshieldinstitute.ca) spoke with @profjquaid.bsky.social (Professor in the Civil Law Section, University of Ottawa) how advertising technology is reshaping competition, value chains, and sovereignty in Canada. 🧵
To kick us off, we heard opening remarks from our host, @petermacleod.bsky.social (MASS LBP), followed by lightning talks featuring Anya Schiffrin and @abridgman.bsky.social. 🧵
December 4, 2025 at 10:41 PM
To kick us off, we heard opening remarks from our host, @petermacleod.bsky.social (MASS LBP), followed by lightning talks featuring Anya Schiffrin and @abridgman.bsky.social. 🧵
Welcome to Securing Canada's Digital Sovereignty: AI and the Growing Economy of Fraud! We're honoured to convene experts on ad tech, misinformation, digital affairs, and public policy to discuss how AI is transforming the online fraud landscape and what Canada can do about it. 🧵
December 4, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Welcome to Securing Canada's Digital Sovereignty: AI and the Growing Economy of Fraud! We're honoured to convene experts on ad tech, misinformation, digital affairs, and public policy to discuss how AI is transforming the online fraud landscape and what Canada can do about it. 🧵
Securing Canada's Digital Sovereignty: AI and the Growing Economy of Fraud is happening today at 4:30PM at The Global Centre for Pluralism in Ottawa!
It's not too late to register, click here to reserve your free tickets: tinyurl.com/fyaakr3n
It's not too late to register, click here to reserve your free tickets: tinyurl.com/fyaakr3n
AI and the Growing Economy of Fraud
AI is reshaping fraud. Join experts in Ottawa to chart Canada’s path against deepfakes and digital deception.
tinyurl.com
December 4, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Securing Canada's Digital Sovereignty: AI and the Growing Economy of Fraud is happening today at 4:30PM at The Global Centre for Pluralism in Ottawa!
It's not too late to register, click here to reserve your free tickets: tinyurl.com/fyaakr3n
It's not too late to register, click here to reserve your free tickets: tinyurl.com/fyaakr3n
We recently heard from @garymarcus.bsky.social at #AttnGovernOrBeGoverned, where he argued that we are witnessing an AI bubble.
This week, @taylorowen.bsky.social interviewed him on Machines Like Us to discuss whether an alternative AI could save us. Check it out here: youtu.be/Q72flbyc2yQ
This week, @taylorowen.bsky.social interviewed him on Machines Like Us to discuss whether an alternative AI could save us. Check it out here: youtu.be/Q72flbyc2yQ
Could an alternative AI save us from a bubble? (Gary Marcus)
YouTube video by Machines Like Us
youtu.be
December 3, 2025 at 9:08 PM
We recently heard from @garymarcus.bsky.social at #AttnGovernOrBeGoverned, where he argued that we are witnessing an AI bubble.
This week, @taylorowen.bsky.social interviewed him on Machines Like Us to discuss whether an alternative AI could save us. Check it out here: youtu.be/Q72flbyc2yQ
This week, @taylorowen.bsky.social interviewed him on Machines Like Us to discuss whether an alternative AI could save us. Check it out here: youtu.be/Q72flbyc2yQ
Join us in congratulating Helen Hayes (Associate Director, Policy at the Centre) for being named a 2026 recipient of @forbes.com 30 under 30! 🧵
Read her full profile here: www.forbes.com/profile/hele...
Read her full profile here: www.forbes.com/profile/hele...
Helen Hayes - Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy
Helen Hayes is on Forbes' 2026 30 Under 30 - Education list. Read more about Helen Hayes, their experience, their asset summary, and more here.
www.forbes.com
December 2, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Join us in congratulating Helen Hayes (Associate Director, Policy at the Centre) for being named a 2026 recipient of @forbes.com 30 under 30! 🧵
Read her full profile here: www.forbes.com/profile/hele...
Read her full profile here: www.forbes.com/profile/hele...
Debates over public service media are rising globally. In Canada, the push to defund CBC/Radio-Canada before the 2025 election exposed real vulnerabilities. Parliament approved a funding increase, but the future of our public broadcaster is far from settled. 🧵
December 1, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Debates over public service media are rising globally. In Canada, the push to defund CBC/Radio-Canada before the 2025 election exposed real vulnerabilities. Parliament approved a funding increase, but the future of our public broadcaster is far from settled. 🧵
Data privacy was a recurring theme at our October conference, #AttnGovernOrBeGoverned. According to the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, Philippe Dufresne, this is a particularly fundamental value for Canadians, with 9/10 expressing deep concerns in OPC surveys. 🧵
November 27, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Data privacy was a recurring theme at our October conference, #AttnGovernOrBeGoverned. According to the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, Philippe Dufresne, this is a particularly fundamental value for Canadians, with 9/10 expressing deep concerns in OPC surveys. 🧵
Reposted by Centre for Media, Technology & Democracy
Very happy to have been able to contribute to this event, and thanks to @taylorowen.bsky.social and colleagues for producing a stellar event.
What is a democratic technology and what does that actually mean? This was the guiding question that @ivansigal.bsky.social posed to Professor @ethanz.bsky.social and Mark Surman in their panel, Building the Next Generation of Democratic Tech, at #AttnGovernOrBeGoverned. 🧵
November 26, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Very happy to have been able to contribute to this event, and thanks to @taylorowen.bsky.social and colleagues for producing a stellar event.
AI is ushering a new era of fraud. Join us in Ottawa on December 4th for an evening with global experts, leading policymakers, and regulators to push forward a Canadian agenda on AI-driven financial fraud within the broader AI safety debate. 🧵
November 26, 2025 at 4:51 PM
AI is ushering a new era of fraud. Join us in Ottawa on December 4th for an evening with global experts, leading policymakers, and regulators to push forward a Canadian agenda on AI-driven financial fraud within the broader AI safety debate. 🧵
What is a democratic technology and what does that actually mean? This was the guiding question that @ivansigal.bsky.social posed to Professor @ethanz.bsky.social and Mark Surman in their panel, Building the Next Generation of Democratic Tech, at #AttnGovernOrBeGoverned. 🧵
November 25, 2025 at 9:30 PM
What is a democratic technology and what does that actually mean? This was the guiding question that @ivansigal.bsky.social posed to Professor @ethanz.bsky.social and Mark Surman in their panel, Building the Next Generation of Democratic Tech, at #AttnGovernOrBeGoverned. 🧵
At #AttnGovernOrBeGoverned, @jameeljaffer.bsky.social (Executive Director, @knightcolumbia.org), @imranahmed.bsky.social (CEO, @counterhate.com) joined Professor @klonick.bsky.social (St. John’s University School of Law) to discuss the perilous new free speech moment in the U.S. and beyond. 🧵
November 21, 2025 at 9:59 PM
At #AttnGovernOrBeGoverned, @jameeljaffer.bsky.social (Executive Director, @knightcolumbia.org), @imranahmed.bsky.social (CEO, @counterhate.com) joined Professor @klonick.bsky.social (St. John’s University School of Law) to discuss the perilous new free speech moment in the U.S. and beyond. 🧵
Reposted by Centre for Media, Technology & Democracy
🤔 What happens when 100 Gen Z youth get together to determine policy recommendations for our AI future?
We'll soon find out thanks to Helen Hayes, Associate Director, Policy @mediatechdemocracy.bsky.social.
🎤 Get the full episode now wherever you get your podcasts. cc @jeffmacarthur.bsky.social
We'll soon find out thanks to Helen Hayes, Associate Director, Policy @mediatechdemocracy.bsky.social.
🎤 Get the full episode now wherever you get your podcasts. cc @jeffmacarthur.bsky.social
November 21, 2025 at 7:31 PM
🤔 What happens when 100 Gen Z youth get together to determine policy recommendations for our AI future?
We'll soon find out thanks to Helen Hayes, Associate Director, Policy @mediatechdemocracy.bsky.social.
🎤 Get the full episode now wherever you get your podcasts. cc @jeffmacarthur.bsky.social
We'll soon find out thanks to Helen Hayes, Associate Director, Policy @mediatechdemocracy.bsky.social.
🎤 Get the full episode now wherever you get your podcasts. cc @jeffmacarthur.bsky.social
Oftentimes, efforts to regulate the tech industry are framed as antithetical to innovation. Baroness Beeban Kidron (Member of the UK House of Lords) argued that the inverse is true in her virtual talk on valuing artists in the age of AI at #AttnGovernOrBeGoverned 🧵
November 20, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Oftentimes, efforts to regulate the tech industry are framed as antithetical to innovation. Baroness Beeban Kidron (Member of the UK House of Lords) argued that the inverse is true in her virtual talk on valuing artists in the age of AI at #AttnGovernOrBeGoverned 🧵
A key debate in discussions about regulating online spaces is how best to frame legislation. At #AttnGovernOrBeGoverned, moderator @damiancollins.bsky.social asked this question to Sasha Havlicek, @alexandrageese.bsky.social, and Sir Jeremy Wright. 🧵
November 19, 2025 at 10:20 PM
A key debate in discussions about regulating online spaces is how best to frame legislation. At #AttnGovernOrBeGoverned, moderator @damiancollins.bsky.social asked this question to Sasha Havlicek, @alexandrageese.bsky.social, and Sir Jeremy Wright. 🧵
Reposted by Centre for Media, Technology & Democracy
🤩 Busy day in Halifax, but before we hit the stage to record an episode of The AmberMac Show podcast live, here's this week's new episode - released today:
podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/g...
@jeffmacarthur.bsky.social
@marcsaltzman.bsky.social
@mediatechdemocracy.bsky.social
podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/g...
@jeffmacarthur.bsky.social
@marcsaltzman.bsky.social
@mediatechdemocracy.bsky.social
November 19, 2025 at 2:13 PM
🤩 Busy day in Halifax, but before we hit the stage to record an episode of The AmberMac Show podcast live, here's this week's new episode - released today:
podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/g...
@jeffmacarthur.bsky.social
@marcsaltzman.bsky.social
@mediatechdemocracy.bsky.social
podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/g...
@jeffmacarthur.bsky.social
@marcsaltzman.bsky.social
@mediatechdemocracy.bsky.social
In case you needed another reason to check out Left To Their Own Devices, Apple Canada’s editorial team just named it it one of the top 10 best podcasts of 2025! 🧵
November 18, 2025 at 10:08 PM
In case you needed another reason to check out Left To Their Own Devices, Apple Canada’s editorial team just named it it one of the top 10 best podcasts of 2025! 🧵
Jim Balsillie (former Chair & Co-CEO, Research in Motion) joined us at #AttnGovernOrBeGoverned to address what he calls the "mythical three-headed Cerberus" of surveillance capitalism threatening Canada's democracy. 🧵
#cdnpoli
#cdnpoli
November 18, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Jim Balsillie (former Chair & Co-CEO, Research in Motion) joined us at #AttnGovernOrBeGoverned to address what he calls the "mythical three-headed Cerberus" of surveillance capitalism threatening Canada's democracy. 🧵
#cdnpoli
#cdnpoli