Natasha Tusikov
@ntusikov.bsky.social
She/her. Assoc. prof at York University in Toronto. All things tech governance, especially internet of things, smart cities, femtech & platform governance. Book (open access): The New Knowledge: Information, Data & Remaking of Global Power
We need to be asking if PM Carney is really interested in & prepared to defend Canada. The Canadian govt's wait-&-see approach is foolhardy as the US has clearly said it plans to run Venezuela for its oil & that Greenland could be next.
What a remarkable statement, that Ottawa wants to wait and see if the US invades Mexico or Greenland. If they do, what then? How will Ottawa change its strategy?
We’ve known for a year that the US is now unabashedly imperialist & authoritarian.
www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/art...
We’ve known for a year that the US is now unabashedly imperialist & authoritarian.
www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/art...
January 6, 2026 at 12:56 PM
We need to be asking if PM Carney is really interested in & prepared to defend Canada. The Canadian govt's wait-&-see approach is foolhardy as the US has clearly said it plans to run Venezuela for its oil & that Greenland could be next.
Reposted by Natasha Tusikov
PP would love to see the same thing happen to the CBC and Radio-Canada.
U.S. Corporation for Public Broadcasting votes itself out of existence
Corporation for Public Broadcasting votes out of existence
Leaders of the U.S. Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private agency that has steered federal funding to PBS, NPR and hundreds of public television and radio stations across the country, voted Monday to dissolve the organization that was created in 1967.
www.ctvnews.ca
January 5, 2026 at 10:41 PM
PP would love to see the same thing happen to the CBC and Radio-Canada.
Reposted by Natasha Tusikov
The idea that a country wants to have agency over its technology systems is understandable. But let’s take care not to confuse this desire with anything resembling progressive politics. My latest for @policyalternatives.ca
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
A digital infrastructure plan - CCPA
Asserting digital sovereignty means mapping out the real world of digital infrastructure and understanding which parts are for public intervention
www.policyalternatives.ca
January 6, 2026 at 12:37 AM
The idea that a country wants to have agency over its technology systems is understandable. But let’s take care not to confuse this desire with anything resembling progressive politics. My latest for @policyalternatives.ca
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
Canada health officials say they no longer trust US institutions for health data or info, following US pushing health misinformation & attacking safe vaccines. PM Carney is cutting Canada's public service, including health, putting Canadians at risk.
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
Canadian officials say US health institutions no longer dependable for accurate information
Misinformation from the Trump administration is cited as fuelling Canadians’ concerns over childhood vaccinations
www.theguardian.com
January 5, 2026 at 1:04 PM
Canada health officials say they no longer trust US institutions for health data or info, following US pushing health misinformation & attacking safe vaccines. PM Carney is cutting Canada's public service, including health, putting Canadians at risk.
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
Reposted by Natasha Tusikov
You probably heard the US admin is threatening to break up the National Center for Atmospheric Research: but did you know they already froze funding for the 9 regional Climate Science Adaptation Centers? From tracking invasives to helping tribes with drought, here's why the CASCs matter ⬇️
From invasive species tracking to water security – what’s lost with federal funding cuts at US Climate Adaptation Science Centers
The people who manage America’s aquifers, wetlands, shorelines and recreation areas rely on federal science as they face new and rising risks in a changing climate.
theconversation.com
December 29, 2025 at 12:02 PM
You probably heard the US admin is threatening to break up the National Center for Atmospheric Research: but did you know they already froze funding for the 9 regional Climate Science Adaptation Centers? From tracking invasives to helping tribes with drought, here's why the CASCs matter ⬇️
Reposted by Natasha Tusikov
I know everyone is super concerned about ‘inciting terrorism,’ so why exactly is it okay for a Toronto Sun columnist to essentially say that violence is an appropriate response to anti-genocide protesters?
December 28, 2025 at 1:16 PM
I know everyone is super concerned about ‘inciting terrorism,’ so why exactly is it okay for a Toronto Sun columnist to essentially say that violence is an appropriate response to anti-genocide protesters?
Reposted by Natasha Tusikov
"We’re monitoring what you do online. Disseminating, writing, or publishing inciting content online is considered a terrorist crime in every sense and may lead to arrest or imprisonment. We have warned you."
Israel warns Palestinians that posting about their suffering will be considered terrorism.
Israel warns Palestinians that posting about their suffering will be considered terrorism.
December 25, 2025 at 12:06 AM
"We’re monitoring what you do online. Disseminating, writing, or publishing inciting content online is considered a terrorist crime in every sense and may lead to arrest or imprisonment. We have warned you."
Israel warns Palestinians that posting about their suffering will be considered terrorism.
Israel warns Palestinians that posting about their suffering will be considered terrorism.
Reposted by Natasha Tusikov
Your regular reminder that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has gone all-in on AI hype. It’s a big reason why I have trouble accepting the narrative that Carney is an economic genius.
Just like Klarna who fired many people because they thought AI can solve everything, the hype they swallowed was met with the reality that it just doesn't work well.
Same lesson different company. As the AI hype and bubble pop, we will see more of these.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/t...
Same lesson different company. As the AI hype and bubble pop, we will see more of these.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/t...
After laying off 4,000 employees and automating with AI agents, Salesforce executives admit: We were more confident about…. - The Times of India
Tech News News: Salesforce, one of the world's most valuable enterprise software companies, is pulling back from its heavy reliance on large language models after enc.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
December 23, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Your regular reminder that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has gone all-in on AI hype. It’s a big reason why I have trouble accepting the narrative that Carney is an economic genius.
Reposted by Natasha Tusikov
1/ We import half our food from the USA. In 2025, Trump gutted the Food and Drug Administration and its capacity to monitor the safety of food coming across our border, and onto your plate. This has the CFIA & food safety experts very, very worried. Great piece in @irpp.org by @ntusikov.bsky.social
How Trump’s regulatory cuts threaten Canada’s safety
Trump’s dismantling of U.S. science agencies puts Canadians at risk. Canada must boost regulatory capacity to protect health and food safety.
policyoptions.irpp.org
December 23, 2025 at 8:33 PM
1/ We import half our food from the USA. In 2025, Trump gutted the Food and Drug Administration and its capacity to monitor the safety of food coming across our border, and onto your plate. This has the CFIA & food safety experts very, very worried. Great piece in @irpp.org by @ntusikov.bsky.social
Reposted by Natasha Tusikov
This widespread ”AI” conflation has set back the push for sound digital policy by over a decade.
In our book about the shift to a digitized society, @ntusikov.bsky.social and I deliberately chose to avoid the term as much as possible precisely because it sows such confusion.
In our book about the shift to a digitized society, @ntusikov.bsky.social and I deliberately chose to avoid the term as much as possible precisely because it sows such confusion.
Wildly different things, tasks, techniques, subspecialties being lumped into "AI" and then being conflated with each other, doesn't help. Different types of models vs the techniques to train them vs the tasks they are supposed to accomplish, all under "AI".
December 23, 2025 at 1:07 PM
This widespread ”AI” conflation has set back the push for sound digital policy by over a decade.
In our book about the shift to a digitized society, @ntusikov.bsky.social and I deliberately chose to avoid the term as much as possible precisely because it sows such confusion.
In our book about the shift to a digitized society, @ntusikov.bsky.social and I deliberately chose to avoid the term as much as possible precisely because it sows such confusion.
Reposted by Natasha Tusikov
MacIsaac should sue Google.
Remind me again how good generative AI is at summarizing information. This tech should be banned under existing consumer protection laws.
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/arti...
Remind me again how good generative AI is at summarizing information. This tech should be banned under existing consumer protection laws.
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/arti...
Fiddler Ashley MacIsaac has show cancelled over Google AI misinformation
Cape Breton musician was set to perform in Nova Scotia before a search summary incorrectly described him as a sex offender
www.theglobeandmail.com
December 23, 2025 at 12:14 PM
MacIsaac should sue Google.
Remind me again how good generative AI is at summarizing information. This tech should be banned under existing consumer protection laws.
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/arti...
Remind me again how good generative AI is at summarizing information. This tech should be banned under existing consumer protection laws.
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/arti...
Reposted by Natasha Tusikov
Israeli soldiers accused of physically assaulting a female Canadian member of parliament:
“An Israeli officer came up to me and he was yelling at my face and said, ‘Go away,’ and he pushed me … I said ‘Don’t touch me, please.’ And he said, ‘I’ll touch you as much as I want,’ and he pushed me again”
“An Israeli officer came up to me and he was yelling at my face and said, ‘Go away,’ and he pushed me … I said ‘Don’t touch me, please.’ And he said, ‘I’ll touch you as much as I want,’ and he pushed me again”
Liberal MP says she was shoved by Israeli officials at West Bank border crossing
OTTAWA — A Liberal MP says she was shoved several times by Israeli border officials as her delegation was denied entry to the West Bank Tuesday. Ontario MP Iqra Khalid said she was pushed after trying...
cfjctoday.com
December 17, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Israeli soldiers accused of physically assaulting a female Canadian member of parliament:
“An Israeli officer came up to me and he was yelling at my face and said, ‘Go away,’ and he pushed me … I said ‘Don’t touch me, please.’ And he said, ‘I’ll touch you as much as I want,’ and he pushed me again”
“An Israeli officer came up to me and he was yelling at my face and said, ‘Go away,’ and he pushed me … I said ‘Don’t touch me, please.’ And he said, ‘I’ll touch you as much as I want,’ and he pushed me again”
Reposted by Natasha Tusikov
If one believes the false claim that Meta is a vehicle for democracy, civic participation, and freedom of expression, then this looks nonsensical. But if one knows Meta is not the purveyor of democracy but a private firm managed by Mark Zuckerberg, then this makes perfect sense.
Meta blocks me from posting the link to this story but doesn't stop ads for unregulated drugs.
Makes no sense.
Makes no sense.
December 17, 2025 at 12:30 AM
If one believes the false claim that Meta is a vehicle for democracy, civic participation, and freedom of expression, then this looks nonsensical. But if one knows Meta is not the purveyor of democracy but a private firm managed by Mark Zuckerberg, then this makes perfect sense.
Reposted by Natasha Tusikov
I've tried and failed a couple times to write a post explaining how serious this would be. NCAR is globally essential to our climate change response. This can't just be replaced. Every scientist in the world will be doing climate research with one hand tied behind their back for at least a decade
Exclusive: The Trump administration is moving to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado, according to a senior White House official, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.
Trump moves to dismantle major US climate research center in Colorado
The Trump administration is breaking up the National Center for Atmospheric Research, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.
bit.ly
December 17, 2025 at 2:30 AM
I've tried and failed a couple times to write a post explaining how serious this would be. NCAR is globally essential to our climate change response. This can't just be replaced. Every scientist in the world will be doing climate research with one hand tied behind their back for at least a decade
Reposted by Natasha Tusikov
Ok, but speaking as a Canadian scientist, we absolutely need to fix the stagnant funding for researchers who are already here and punching above our weight, rather than doing the Harper thing again of spending heaps of money to recruit "superstars" from elsewhere.
When Hitler declared war on the universities there was an exodus of researchers.
The American "century" benefited from the influx of great thinkers.
Trump's war on American universities is the end of that century.
Canada's century has begun.
My latest.
charlieangus.substack.com/p/canadas-ce...
The American "century" benefited from the influx of great thinkers.
Trump's war on American universities is the end of that century.
Canada's century has begun.
My latest.
charlieangus.substack.com/p/canadas-ce...
Canada's Century Has Begun
There was an item in the last federal budget that didn’t get much attention but it’s a detail that has the potential to transform Canada’s place in the world.
charlieangus.substack.com
December 16, 2025 at 3:01 AM
Ok, but speaking as a Canadian scientist, we absolutely need to fix the stagnant funding for researchers who are already here and punching above our weight, rather than doing the Harper thing again of spending heaps of money to recruit "superstars" from elsewhere.
Reposted by Natasha Tusikov
Read in conjunction with @ntusikov.bsky.social's warning about how Carney's cuts, in conjunction with the US destroying its regulatory infrastructure, are likely to impair health and food safety in Canada.
We need more oversight and stronger regulation, not less.
We need more oversight and stronger regulation, not less.
December 15, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Read in conjunction with @ntusikov.bsky.social's warning about how Carney's cuts, in conjunction with the US destroying its regulatory infrastructure, are likely to impair health and food safety in Canada.
We need more oversight and stronger regulation, not less.
We need more oversight and stronger regulation, not less.
Reposted by Natasha Tusikov
Trump's evisceration of US regulatory agencies will hit Canadians hard. Carney's cuts to state capacity are the exact opposite of what he should be doing to strengthen Canada.
We need more -- much more -- regulatory capacity, not less.
We need more -- much more -- regulatory capacity, not less.
New from me: It will be more difficult for Canada to track diseases, food borne illnesses & side effects from pharmaceuticals with the US govt's dismantling of its regulatory agencies. PM Carney's cuts to the federal govt are coming at a time of crisis.
policyoptions.irpp.org/2025/12/trum...
policyoptions.irpp.org/2025/12/trum...
How Trump’s regulatory cuts threaten Canada’s safety
Trump’s dismantling of U.S. science agencies puts Canadians at risk. Canada must boost regulatory capacity to protect health and food safety.
policyoptions.irpp.org
December 15, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Trump's evisceration of US regulatory agencies will hit Canadians hard. Carney's cuts to state capacity are the exact opposite of what he should be doing to strengthen Canada.
We need more -- much more -- regulatory capacity, not less.
We need more -- much more -- regulatory capacity, not less.
100%. Legal requirements are needed for companies to have offline models, commitments to ongoing software support, & better disclosure to customers that ownership is "precarious." I have a forthcoming (updated) chapter on this, if anyone is interested. It includes trains, tractors & jets!
The problem with "cloud-connected" devices when the company fails or shifts directions is that you're likely to end up with a useless brick.
This could be remedied with legal requirements to have off-line modes or source code releases.
This could be remedied with legal requirements to have off-line modes or source code releases.
The company that makes Roomba robotic vacuums declared bankruptcy Sunday but said its devices will continue to function normally while the company restructures.
December 15, 2025 at 2:52 PM
100%. Legal requirements are needed for companies to have offline models, commitments to ongoing software support, & better disclosure to customers that ownership is "precarious." I have a forthcoming (updated) chapter on this, if anyone is interested. It includes trains, tractors & jets!
New from me: It will be more difficult for Canada to track diseases, food borne illnesses & side effects from pharmaceuticals with the US govt's dismantling of its regulatory agencies. PM Carney's cuts to the federal govt are coming at a time of crisis.
policyoptions.irpp.org/2025/12/trum...
policyoptions.irpp.org/2025/12/trum...
How Trump’s regulatory cuts threaten Canada’s safety
Trump’s dismantling of U.S. science agencies puts Canadians at risk. Canada must boost regulatory capacity to protect health and food safety.
policyoptions.irpp.org
December 15, 2025 at 12:50 PM
New from me: It will be more difficult for Canada to track diseases, food borne illnesses & side effects from pharmaceuticals with the US govt's dismantling of its regulatory agencies. PM Carney's cuts to the federal govt are coming at a time of crisis.
policyoptions.irpp.org/2025/12/trum...
policyoptions.irpp.org/2025/12/trum...
Reposted by Natasha Tusikov
“They’re like, ‘you do Canadian politics.’ I don’t. These are nations [with] different understandings of their relationships, territory, themselves.”
To Make More Space for Indigenous Worldviews, Start Here | The Tyee
It begins with undoing the ‘hegemonologue,’ says a leading political scientist.
thetyee.ca
December 13, 2025 at 1:30 AM
“They’re like, ‘you do Canadian politics.’ I don’t. These are nations [with] different understandings of their relationships, territory, themselves.”
Reposted by Natasha Tusikov
As always, this 300-page report has everything an internet-regulation nerd could dream of for Christmas reading 🤓😎📖
The rise of the industrial media era in the late 19th century? ✔️
A Goliath (big telecom) vs. Goliath (big tech) clash? ✔️
Bonus: A new deep dive into cloud computing!💡
Check it out!
The rise of the industrial media era in the late 19th century? ✔️
A Goliath (big telecom) vs. Goliath (big tech) clash? ✔️
Bonus: A new deep dive into cloud computing!💡
Check it out!
December 12, 2025 at 3:55 AM
As always, this 300-page report has everything an internet-regulation nerd could dream of for Christmas reading 🤓😎📖
The rise of the industrial media era in the late 19th century? ✔️
A Goliath (big telecom) vs. Goliath (big tech) clash? ✔️
Bonus: A new deep dive into cloud computing!💡
Check it out!
The rise of the industrial media era in the late 19th century? ✔️
A Goliath (big telecom) vs. Goliath (big tech) clash? ✔️
Bonus: A new deep dive into cloud computing!💡
Check it out!
Reposted by Natasha Tusikov
I’m having trouble squaring this announcement with the fact that, at least in Ontario, universities are in a decades-long underfunding crisis that governments are refusing to address and in many cases are making worse.
🎉 At last it's public ... "Canada on Tuesday launched a CAN$1.7 billion ($1.2 billion) program to recruit leading global researchers, part of the effort to poach intellectual talent looking to leave the United States because of President Donald Trump's policies." 🇨🇦 💪 www.france24.com/en/live-news...
Canada launches billion dollar plan to recruit top researchers
Canada on Tuesday launched a CAN$1.7 billion ($1.2 billion) program to recruit leading global researchers, part of the effort to poach intellectual talent looking to leave the United States because of...
www.france24.com
December 10, 2025 at 1:16 PM
I’m having trouble squaring this announcement with the fact that, at least in Ontario, universities are in a decades-long underfunding crisis that governments are refusing to address and in many cases are making worse.
Reposted by Natasha Tusikov
Google excels in academic capture. It funds academics as part of a strategy to extract value from discoveries, frame public narratives in its favour, block digital regulation, and sidestep democracy. And it has encouraged “a positive tone” in “AI” research through its “sensitive topics” process.
U of T establishes new Hinton Chair in Artificial Intelligence with support from Google
The University of Toronto has established the Hinton Chair in Artificial Intelligence with $10 million in funding from Google. This new chair will honour the extraordinary legacy of University Profess...
www.utoronto.ca
December 9, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Google excels in academic capture. It funds academics as part of a strategy to extract value from discoveries, frame public narratives in its favour, block digital regulation, and sidestep democracy. And it has encouraged “a positive tone” in “AI” research through its “sensitive topics” process.
Microsoft announces $7.5-billion investment in Canadian digital sovereignty & promises to protect data from US govt. Promises it already admitted to the EU it can't keep when pressured by the US. This isn't sovereignty.
www.theglobeandmail.com/business/art...
www.theglobeandmail.com/business/art...
Microsoft vows to protect ‘digital sovereignty’ in $7.5-billion Canadian data-centre expansion
Company pledges to resist all efforts to shut down service to government customers
www.theglobeandmail.com
December 9, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Microsoft announces $7.5-billion investment in Canadian digital sovereignty & promises to protect data from US govt. Promises it already admitted to the EU it can't keep when pressured by the US. This isn't sovereignty.
www.theglobeandmail.com/business/art...
www.theglobeandmail.com/business/art...
Reposted by Natasha Tusikov
Giving ministers the power to exempt pet projects from any law on the books except for the Criminal Code isn’t nation-building. It’s a disaster waiting to happen.
The fact that they‘re trying to sneak this through without any explanation is particularly incriminating.
The fact that they‘re trying to sneak this through without any explanation is particularly incriminating.
Althia Raj: Mark Carney is quietly giving sweeping new powers to his ministers
Sneaking a change of this magnitude into a 600-page bill that will not get parliamentary scrutiny raises a red flag, Althia Raj writes.
www.thestar.com
December 7, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Giving ministers the power to exempt pet projects from any law on the books except for the Criminal Code isn’t nation-building. It’s a disaster waiting to happen.
The fact that they‘re trying to sneak this through without any explanation is particularly incriminating.
The fact that they‘re trying to sneak this through without any explanation is particularly incriminating.