CIGI Welcomes Privacy Commissioner Daniel Therrien

Oct. 14 – 1:30 p.m. EDT (UTC–04:00): On Thursday, CIGI will host Privacy Commissioner of Canada Daniel Therrien for a discussion on privacy protection in the context of today’s information revolution, the data-driven economy and known risks within the evolving threat landscape. A Q&A period will follow, moderated by Aaron Shull.

This event is part of CIGI’s continued work on its Reimagining a Canadian National Security Strategy project.

This event is open to the public. Learn more and register to attend online here.

As Samuel Woolley writes, there are problems with maintaining a myopic focus on disinformation when we’re considering how to address social media’s ills. Most social media platforms are crucibles for a wide range of nefarious and coercive communication beyond disinformation — for example, organized crime groups and known terror organizations use them to communicate and organize. What if, instead of letting our focus on disinformation run away with us, we stopped it in its tracks? This doesn’t mean not discussing or studying disinformation at all — instead, it means preventing disinformation’s spread via societal and technical means, as well as not feeding into it via unconsidered reporting or publication.

If you think your social media feed feels angrier than a few years ago, you’re not alone; in fact, one candidate in the recent Canadian election, interviewed for this article by Stephen Maher, believes that Facebook’s algorithm adjustment of 2018 increased the amount of anger he faced when knocking on doors. The algorithmic adjustment, which the company introduced to drive engagement and revenue, had the effect of amplifying negative posts, creating viral content that “led to actual violence that harms and even kills people,” according to whistle-blower Frances Haugen, who testified before the US Senate last week. That an algorithm can have wide-ranging implications for public safety drives home the need for Facebook to open its processes to researchers.

Dec. 7 – 9:30 a.m. EST (UTC–05:00): CIGI is pleased to host His Excellency Cong Peiwu, China’s Ambassador to Canada, for a conversation with CIGI President Rohinton P. Medhora about China’s role in the global economy. In the wake of the G20 leaders’ summit and the WTO Ministerial Conference, this conversation will explore China’s role and influence in issues preoccupying governments worldwide, such as technology, trade, investment, climate change, and cyber and data governance. A Q&A period moderated by Medhora will follow.

Note: The date of this event has recently changed. To join us online on December 7, please register here.