Technologists for Democracy
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techfordemocracy.bsky.social
Technologists for Democracy
@techfordemocracy.bsky.social
We are Canadians who work with technology towards better democracy for all. techfordemocracy.ca
We've joined more than 160 civil society and human rights organizations, academics, field experts, and privacy and equality advocates across Canada, calling on Minister Solomon and ISED to extend national AI consultation and recreate the Task Force to include human rights representation. Read here:
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 4, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Reposted by Technologists for Democracy
We're going public today with a powerful new tool for researching, following and reporting on local governments across Canada.

It’s dragging cities and towns into the 21st century by making 550 municipalities’ public meetings easy to search, all in one place, for the first time.
Canada’s National Observer unveils a powerful tool for fighting disinformation
Civic Searchlight brings together municipal meeting transcripts from across Canada into a searchable database for the first time. It has already been used to fight disinformation, report on impact, di...
www.nationalobserver.com
October 8, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Thanks to our volunteers who helped bring about awareness of the issues around this pilot! Innovation does not have to come at the cost of personal privacy and surveillance.
October 2, 2025 at 9:01 PM
PRESS RELEASE:
Speed Cameras are an Effective Technology for Public Safety

Read here:
techfordemocracy.ca/2025/09/25/s...
Speed Cameras are an Effective Technology for Public Safety
TfD’s press release on automated speed cameras in response to Ontario’s decision to ban them.
techfordemocracy.ca
September 25, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Reposted by Technologists for Democracy
🇨🇦’s Cybersecurity bill is back! Bill C-8 is Bill C-26’s twin. 👯‍♀️ Huge encryption risks, same secret orders. 🚨 Don’t let #BillC8 fast track through Parliament. Speak up and tell your MP to #FixBillC8 now! 📣 openmedia.org/FixBillC8-bsky
@openmediaorg.bsky.social
Fix Bill C-8: Stop the Fast-Track of a Flawed Cybersecurity Bill
Huge encryption risks, same secret orders. 🚨 Don’t let it fast track through Parliament. Speak up and tell your MP to #FixBillC8 now! 📣 https://openmedia.org/FixBillC8
openmedia.org
September 18, 2025 at 9:19 PM
We'll be drawing the line along with Canadians across the country tomorrow, September 20th, to protest against growing wealth inequality and exploitation.

Join us in Toronto at Yonge & Dundas at 2pm!
drawtheline.world/canada
September 19, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Thanks to all who came out and joined us last night.

Special thanks to Luke Yates visiting us during his NA tour, Ghada Alsharif for moderating the panel discussion and Luisa Sotomayor for hosting us at the University of Toronto, and, of course, all the panelists.
September 8, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Reposted by Technologists for Democracy
"The unsettling feeling that your device is spying on you is real — but the culprit isn't a secret microphone. It's the data broker industry," EFF’s @evacide.bsky.social tells @CNET.com. www.cnet.com/tech/servic...
No, Your iPhone Isn't Listening to You. Here's What's Really Happening
There are lots of reasons an ad pops up on your phone, but none involve a microphone listening.
www.cnet.com
September 4, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Read about the privacy concerns we've raised with a local self-driving pilot happening in Toronto!

Full text at: techfordemocracy.ca/2025/08/25/a...

#privacy #surveillance #toronto
August 27, 2025 at 6:42 PM
We hosted a session at #CivicSpark last weekend and had a great time!

#CivicTech #Toronto
@civictechto.bsky.social @khasir.bsky.social
August 26, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Reposted by Technologists for Democracy
My @thestar.com column this week: Civic Tech in Toronto turns ten!

A look at some of the people getting together each week to hack away at our problems via @civictechto.bsky.social — and what City Hall could be doing to support their work.

www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Matt Elliott: Yes, tech can be a force for good. Meet the people hacking Toronto for the better
The volunteers who created the Civic Dashboard and BikeSpace apps this weekend mark their 10th anniversary of brainstorming and tech development with a two-day event called Civic Spark.
www.thestar.com
August 14, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Join us in #Toronto on Sunday where we'll be running a session!
Civic Spark is built by us — the civic tech community.

Join us Aug 16–17 for a volunteer-led gathering shaping the future of public life.

Full story → civictech.ca/announcements/civic-spark
Tickets → civic-spark.com
August 14, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Reposted by Technologists for Democracy
It was only a matter of time, but Canada has joined the censorship bandwagon with Bill S-209.

Sign the petition, call your MPs, raise hell.

www.change.org/p/stop-bill-...
Sign the Petition
Stop Bill S-209’s De-Anonymization of Every Canadian Adult
www.change.org
August 3, 2025 at 2:15 AM
Hello world!
August 6, 2025 at 7:33 PM