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
New: my coauthored oped on period-tracking apps. We introduce the concept of "humanitarian femtech." NGOs create reproductive & sexual health tech, which have humanitarian goals but are precarious because of unstable funding & problematic accountability.
www.cigionline.org/articles/glo...
www.cigionline.org/articles/glo...
Global Health Systems Aren’t Ready for the Rise of Humanitarian “Femtech”
Humanitarian femtech is reshaping global reproductive health, but weak governance and privacy risks expose gaps in global health and feminist policy frameworks.
www.cigionline.org
November 11, 2025 at 7:38 PM
New: my coauthored oped on period-tracking apps. We introduce the concept of "humanitarian femtech." NGOs create reproductive & sexual health tech, which have humanitarian goals but are precarious because of unstable funding & problematic accountability.
www.cigionline.org/articles/glo...
www.cigionline.org/articles/glo...
Reposted by Natasha Tusikov
22 authors in a new OA peer-reviewed article in Soc of Sport Journal:
Israel is committing *athleticide* in Gaza, "an indispensable component of the overall genocidal campaign enforced by the Israeli settler colonial regime and bankrolled by the US."
journals.humankinetics.com/view/journal...
Israel is committing *athleticide* in Gaza, "an indispensable component of the overall genocidal campaign enforced by the Israeli settler colonial regime and bankrolled by the US."
journals.humankinetics.com/view/journal...
November 7, 2025 at 3:15 PM
22 authors in a new OA peer-reviewed article in Soc of Sport Journal:
Israel is committing *athleticide* in Gaza, "an indispensable component of the overall genocidal campaign enforced by the Israeli settler colonial regime and bankrolled by the US."
journals.humankinetics.com/view/journal...
Israel is committing *athleticide* in Gaza, "an indispensable component of the overall genocidal campaign enforced by the Israeli settler colonial regime and bankrolled by the US."
journals.humankinetics.com/view/journal...
100% @bhaggart.bsky.social & I have been arguing this point for years too (see our open-access book The New Knowledge with Bloomsbury)! Regulating platforms without addressing their business models is doomed to fail. Maybe now we can finally talk about how to restructure their business models?
I feel like academics and activists have been shouting about the need to address the platforms' business model for years. But this recent article about Meta making a fortune from fraudulent ads makes it crystal clear. But more than that it -> www.reuters.com/investigatio...
Meta is earning a fortune on a deluge of fraudulent ads, documents show
Meta projected 10% of its 2024 revenue would come from ads for scams and banned goods, and it internally estimates that its platforms show users 15 billion scam ads a day, company documents show.
www.reuters.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:20 PM
100% @bhaggart.bsky.social & I have been arguing this point for years too (see our open-access book The New Knowledge with Bloomsbury)! Regulating platforms without addressing their business models is doomed to fail. Maybe now we can finally talk about how to restructure their business models?
Reposted by Natasha Tusikov
A national AI strategy is too important to "sprint" through in 30 days. I've signed an open letter alongside 160+ civil society & human rights groups, academics, experts, and advocates, protesting Minister Solomon's "consultation" and demanding a re-do:
bccla.org/policy-submi...
bccla.org/policy-submi...
OPEN LETTER to the Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation from civil society organizations and individuals opposing "National Sprint" consultation on AI strategy - BC Civil Liberti...
The Honourable Mélanie JolyMinister of IndustryHouse of CommonsOttawa, OntarioK1A 0A6 The Honourable Evan SolomonMinister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital InnovationHouse of CommonsOttawa, Ontar...
bccla.org
November 6, 2025 at 4:37 PM
A national AI strategy is too important to "sprint" through in 30 days. I've signed an open letter alongside 160+ civil society & human rights groups, academics, experts, and advocates, protesting Minister Solomon's "consultation" and demanding a re-do:
bccla.org/policy-submi...
bccla.org/policy-submi...
Signed. There are many problems with a 30-day, industry-heavy 'sprint' to develop AI policies, especially when a key goal is to cut the public service & integrate AI chatbots across government departments.
Along with numerous orgs and individuals, I have signed on to an Open Letter to the 🇨🇦 Minister of AI raising serious concerns about the government's approach to AI strategy.
Details are here 👇
bccla.org/policy-submi...
Details are here 👇
bccla.org/policy-submi...
OPEN LETTER to the Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation from civil society organizations and individuals opposing "National Sprint" consultation on AI strategy - BC Civil Liberti...
The Honourable Mélanie JolyMinister of IndustryHouse of CommonsOttawa, OntarioK1A 0A6 The Honourable Evan SolomonMinister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital InnovationHouse of CommonsOttawa, Ontar...
bccla.org
November 6, 2025 at 1:37 AM
Signed. There are many problems with a 30-day, industry-heavy 'sprint' to develop AI policies, especially when a key goal is to cut the public service & integrate AI chatbots across government departments.
Reposted by Natasha Tusikov
From the budget:
"A leaner public service is a more empowered and productive public service."
This is simply not true. A leaner public service is a stretched-too-thin public service that won't be able to deal with the myriad challenges the coming years promise.
Ideological nonsense.
"A leaner public service is a more empowered and productive public service."
This is simply not true. A leaner public service is a stretched-too-thin public service that won't be able to deal with the myriad challenges the coming years promise.
Ideological nonsense.
www.budget.canada.ca
November 4, 2025 at 9:42 PM
From the budget:
"A leaner public service is a more empowered and productive public service."
This is simply not true. A leaner public service is a stretched-too-thin public service that won't be able to deal with the myriad challenges the coming years promise.
Ideological nonsense.
"A leaner public service is a more empowered and productive public service."
This is simply not true. A leaner public service is a stretched-too-thin public service that won't be able to deal with the myriad challenges the coming years promise.
Ideological nonsense.
Reposted by Natasha Tusikov
It’s just sad that, at a time when Canadians are open to cooperation and have come together to stand up to the US through grassroots boycotts, when national unity is more important than ever, the Liberals chose to play chicken with the budget rather than even try to reach out to the other parties.
Carney government shows no sign of compromise in budget that will test opposition parties
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s minority government is all but daring the opposition to vote down its first budget, promising Tuesday’s spending plan — billed as a mixture of "austerity" and
www.thestar.com
November 4, 2025 at 10:30 AM
It’s just sad that, at a time when Canadians are open to cooperation and have come together to stand up to the US through grassroots boycotts, when national unity is more important than ever, the Liberals chose to play chicken with the budget rather than even try to reach out to the other parties.
Absolutely correct. Granting MPs access to the personal details of all those who applied (funded & not) so that they can troll researchers & critique research, especially in the social sciences & humanities they dislike & don't understand is a terrible idea.
How much are MPs entitled to know about research grants? Not as much as they think. A parliamentary committee is asking for researchers' personal information in what seems like an anti-DEI crusade, by @picardonhealth.bsky.social www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti... via @theglobeandmail.com
Opinion: How much are MPs entitled to know about research grants? Not as much as they think
A parliamentary committee is asking for academics’ private information on a strange anti-DEI crusade
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 4, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Absolutely correct. Granting MPs access to the personal details of all those who applied (funded & not) so that they can troll researchers & critique research, especially in the social sciences & humanities they dislike & don't understand is a terrible idea.
Signed. Canada's ridiculous 'sprint' to transform AI policy in 30 days is ill conceived, harmful and symptomatic of a government desperate to believe that AI can somehow improve productivity & facilitate severe cutbacks to the public service without compromising service quality.
Along with numerous orgs and individuals, I have signed on to an Open Letter to the 🇨🇦 Minister of AI raising serious concerns about the government's approach to AI strategy.
Details are here 👇
bccla.org/policy-submi...
Details are here 👇
bccla.org/policy-submi...
OPEN LETTER to the Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation from civil society organizations and individuals opposing "National Sprint" consultation on AI strategy - BC Civil Liberti...
The Honourable Mélanie JolyMinister of IndustryHouse of CommonsOttawa, OntarioK1A 0A6 The Honourable Evan SolomonMinister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital InnovationHouse of CommonsOttawa, Ontar...
bccla.org
November 3, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Signed. Canada's ridiculous 'sprint' to transform AI policy in 30 days is ill conceived, harmful and symptomatic of a government desperate to believe that AI can somehow improve productivity & facilitate severe cutbacks to the public service without compromising service quality.
Reposted by Natasha Tusikov
If you have or have had Tri-Council funding you, too, may be concerned about this Parliamentary Committee request for confidential data.
Also, these clowns asked for 5 years of data on applications from everyone from MA students to Canada Research Chairs in... an excel spreadsheet. 15 days notice.
Also, these clowns asked for 5 years of data on applications from everyone from MA students to Canada Research Chairs in... an excel spreadsheet. 15 days notice.
Open Letter to Protect Tri-Council EDI Data
Why do we need urgent action to protect our data?
The mandate of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Science and Research is to review and report on topics relating to science and research in ...
docs.google.com
November 2, 2025 at 2:03 AM
If you have or have had Tri-Council funding you, too, may be concerned about this Parliamentary Committee request for confidential data.
Also, these clowns asked for 5 years of data on applications from everyone from MA students to Canada Research Chairs in... an excel spreadsheet. 15 days notice.
Also, these clowns asked for 5 years of data on applications from everyone from MA students to Canada Research Chairs in... an excel spreadsheet. 15 days notice.
Signed. It’s important that Canadian academics sign this letter to protest this hateful, anti-DEI & anti-academic freedom attempt to control research funding in Canada. This is an attempt to weaken & politicize research funding.
If you have or have had Tri-Council funding you, too, may be concerned about this Parliamentary Committee request for confidential data.
Also, these clowns asked for 5 years of data on applications from everyone from MA students to Canada Research Chairs in... an excel spreadsheet. 15 days notice.
Also, these clowns asked for 5 years of data on applications from everyone from MA students to Canada Research Chairs in... an excel spreadsheet. 15 days notice.
Open Letter to Protect Tri-Council EDI Data
Why do we need urgent action to protect our data?
The mandate of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Science and Research is to review and report on topics relating to science and research in ...
docs.google.com
November 2, 2025 at 2:51 AM
Signed. It’s important that Canadian academics sign this letter to protest this hateful, anti-DEI & anti-academic freedom attempt to control research funding in Canada. This is an attempt to weaken & politicize research funding.
Reposted by Natasha Tusikov
Canadians are not divided by “AI”, as Forbes claims. Once again, the Canadian public is united, correct, and ahead of the Carney government:
According to a new poll by Leger, 85% of Canadians want government regulation for “AI”, not its rapid acceleration with weak laws that don’t get enforced.
According to a new poll by Leger, 85% of Canadians want government regulation for “AI”, not its rapid acceleration with weak laws that don’t get enforced.
Canadian governments should regulate AI, 85% of Canadians say: poll - National | Globalnews.ca
AI is being used by more and more Canadians, but while many say they're comfortable using it, a majority say governments need to regulate it for safety.
globalnews.ca
October 22, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Canadians are not divided by “AI”, as Forbes claims. Once again, the Canadian public is united, correct, and ahead of the Carney government:
According to a new poll by Leger, 85% of Canadians want government regulation for “AI”, not its rapid acceleration with weak laws that don’t get enforced.
According to a new poll by Leger, 85% of Canadians want government regulation for “AI”, not its rapid acceleration with weak laws that don’t get enforced.
Reposted by Natasha Tusikov
Just stop Canada...honestly! Given global groundwater shortages, this is not a future anyone can afford. Big Tech has done enough damage.
"At least two of the Microsoft data centres in Ontario have been cleared by municipal authorities to consume vast amounts of municipal drinking water."
"At least two of the Microsoft data centres in Ontario have been cleared by municipal authorities to consume vast amounts of municipal drinking water."
“Life on this planet is sustained by water. It is not sustained by data. We don't need data the way we need water,” Barnwell said. “And we in Canada have been pretty blithe about our natural resources.”
www.cbc.ca/news/ai-data...
www.cbc.ca/news/ai-data...
Thirsty AI data centres are coming to Canada, with little scrutiny or oversight | CBC News
Canada is poised to join the data centre boom. But as such projects face greater scrutiny around the world, there is little debate here about what this will mean for the country’s water.
www.cbc.ca
October 18, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Just stop Canada...honestly! Given global groundwater shortages, this is not a future anyone can afford. Big Tech has done enough damage.
"At least two of the Microsoft data centres in Ontario have been cleared by municipal authorities to consume vast amounts of municipal drinking water."
"At least two of the Microsoft data centres in Ontario have been cleared by municipal authorities to consume vast amounts of municipal drinking water."
Reposted by Natasha Tusikov
A new CBC investigation reveals that Canadian charities continue to fund organizations, including the Israeli military, that support the ever-expanding settlements in the West Bank.
“We are financing war criminality through our charitable system."
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
“We are financing war criminality through our charitable system."
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Canadian charities complicit in helping fund Israeli settlement movement in West Bank, critics say | CBC News
Tax deductible donations made by Canadians to groups that financially support West Bank settlements that are illegal under international law are continuing in the face of escalating attacks on Palesti...
www.cbc.ca
October 17, 2025 at 12:49 PM
A new CBC investigation reveals that Canadian charities continue to fund organizations, including the Israeli military, that support the ever-expanding settlements in the West Bank.
“We are financing war criminality through our charitable system."
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
“We are financing war criminality through our charitable system."
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Reposted by Natasha Tusikov
This is major.
Respect to @nkalamb.bsky.social and @derekcrim.bsky.social for writing this important piece about athletes' silent complicity w genocide
Respect to @nkalamb.bsky.social and @derekcrim.bsky.social for writing this important piece about athletes' silent complicity w genocide
Ever wonder why so few athletes in North America have spoken about Israel's genocide in Gaza?
We did too... so we asked some to find out.
Answers include "fear of losing sponsorships," "the McCarthyist response from government,” and “Zionists gaslighting and doxxing people."
We did too... so we asked some to find out.
Answers include "fear of losing sponsorships," "the McCarthyist response from government,” and “Zionists gaslighting and doxxing people."
Most athletes have chosen to ‘shut up and dribble’ over Gaza | Nathan Kalman-Lamb and Derek Silva
Why have so few athletes spoken about Gaza? Fear of backlash, lost sponsors and being branded antisemitic all help explain the silence
www.theguardian.com
October 17, 2025 at 3:04 PM
This is major.
Respect to @nkalamb.bsky.social and @derekcrim.bsky.social for writing this important piece about athletes' silent complicity w genocide
Respect to @nkalamb.bsky.social and @derekcrim.bsky.social for writing this important piece about athletes' silent complicity w genocide
Reposted by Natasha Tusikov
The Carney government's revealed preference is for deeper US integration. Literally everything Carney has done is consistent with this position.
If any other politician at any other time was doing what Carney is doing, this wouldn't even be up for debate.
If any other politician at any other time was doing what Carney is doing, this wouldn't even be up for debate.
October 16, 2025 at 4:04 PM
The Carney government's revealed preference is for deeper US integration. Literally everything Carney has done is consistent with this position.
If any other politician at any other time was doing what Carney is doing, this wouldn't even be up for debate.
If any other politician at any other time was doing what Carney is doing, this wouldn't even be up for debate.
Reposted by Natasha Tusikov
It's cool that, when facing an existential crisis that threatens the habitability of the planet and our children's furure, our leaders are going all-in on climate apocalypse.
New analysis of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s first 100 days after the federal election show oil and gas, mining and other industrial groups made up about 60 per cent of lobbying records. Environmental groups couldn’t get a word in. thenarwhal.ca/carney-natur...
Carney welcomed industry lobby, ignored environmental groups: records | The Narwhal
Records show resource industry lobbyists had regular access to Prime Minister Mark Carney in his first 100 days, while environmental groups were shut out
thenarwhal.ca
October 16, 2025 at 1:26 PM
It's cool that, when facing an existential crisis that threatens the habitability of the planet and our children's furure, our leaders are going all-in on climate apocalypse.
Reposted by Natasha Tusikov
This is so significant: a new comprehensive report detailing the myriad modalities of Canadian university complicity in Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
static1.squarespace.com/static/68bf2...
static1.squarespace.com/static/68bf2...
October 15, 2025 at 12:03 AM
This is so significant: a new comprehensive report detailing the myriad modalities of Canadian university complicity in Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
static1.squarespace.com/static/68bf2...
static1.squarespace.com/static/68bf2...
Reposted by Natasha Tusikov
WHEW, baby. If *anyone* understands this moment....it's Scotland (shout out to the Travelers).
Front page of Scottish newspaper The National today.
October 13, 2025 at 1:38 PM
WHEW, baby. If *anyone* understands this moment....it's Scotland (shout out to the Travelers).
Reposted by Natasha Tusikov
I am glad to read the head of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association supporting me and taking a stand for academic freedom!
Opinion: U of A's response to Charlie Kirk comments erodes academic freedom
This case cannot be separated from the broader landscape of academic freedom currently under strain in Canada and beyond.
edmontonjournal.com
October 8, 2025 at 12:37 AM
I am glad to read the head of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association supporting me and taking a stand for academic freedom!
Reposted by Natasha Tusikov
As leaders around the world respond to Israel's illegal abduction of humanitarians carrying aid to babies in Gaza, silence from Canada's @mark-carney.bsky.social
@anitaoakvilleeast.bsky.social, and yet they want us to believe this country has moral authority in the world?
Even the UK commented!
@anitaoakvilleeast.bsky.social, and yet they want us to believe this country has moral authority in the world?
Even the UK commented!
October 2, 2025 at 11:27 AM
As leaders around the world respond to Israel's illegal abduction of humanitarians carrying aid to babies in Gaza, silence from Canada's @mark-carney.bsky.social
@anitaoakvilleeast.bsky.social, and yet they want us to believe this country has moral authority in the world?
Even the UK commented!
@anitaoakvilleeast.bsky.social, and yet they want us to believe this country has moral authority in the world?
Even the UK commented!
Reposted by Natasha Tusikov
Solidarity from law profs down highway 2. That this reprehensible and dangerous action by U of A was apparently triggered by conservative media is appalling. The “protection” rationale trotted out by U of A (see also: forceful takedown of campus protests) is baseless and must be challenged.
"Why would it bow to antidemocratic pressures by placing a professor on leave without their request, consent, or involvement? That any university would do this is beyond comprehension and is cause for alarm about the future of academic freedom in Canada."
What Happened to the University’s Commitment to Free Expression? Charley Kirk, uAlberta, and Me | Centre for Free Expression
I was shocked when the University of Alberta administration informed me, one of its law professors, that I was being placed on non-disciplinary leave for my social media comments in the wake of Charli...
cfe.torontomu.ca
September 30, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Solidarity from law profs down highway 2. That this reprehensible and dangerous action by U of A was apparently triggered by conservative media is appalling. The “protection” rationale trotted out by U of A (see also: forceful takedown of campus protests) is baseless and must be challenged.
Reposted by Natasha Tusikov
Is CAUT @caut.bsky.social exploring the possibility of censure against U of T and UAlberta for punishing faculty for extramural speech and thus violating their academic freedom?
September 29, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Is CAUT @caut.bsky.social exploring the possibility of censure against U of T and UAlberta for punishing faculty for extramural speech and thus violating their academic freedom?
A horrifying case of censorship by @ualberta.bsky.social against a law prof commenting on Kirk's death. University failed to explain or justify why Ashley was removed from class. Explanation (& apology) needed from the uni, & protection for faculty & academic freedom. @caut.bsky.social fyi
"Why would it bow to antidemocratic pressures by placing a professor on leave without their request, consent, or involvement? That any university would do this is beyond comprehension and is cause for alarm about the future of academic freedom in Canada."
What Happened to the University’s Commitment to Free Expression? Charley Kirk, uAlberta, and Me | Centre for Free Expression
I was shocked when the University of Alberta administration informed me, one of its law professors, that I was being placed on non-disciplinary leave for my social media comments in the wake of Charli...
cfe.torontomu.ca
September 29, 2025 at 5:34 PM
A horrifying case of censorship by @ualberta.bsky.social against a law prof commenting on Kirk's death. University failed to explain or justify why Ashley was removed from class. Explanation (& apology) needed from the uni, & protection for faculty & academic freedom. @caut.bsky.social fyi