Media Interviews

For media inquiries, please contact Isabelle Corriveau at isabelle.corriveau2@mcgill.ca
On the Coming Merger of Tech and State Power
Taylor Owen Taylor Owen

On the Coming Merger of Tech and State Power

I spent the past week in the UK and Europe talking to people in the tech and democracy community about the implications of the 2024 US election. It’s safe to say that there is deep concern about what's coming – not just the usual hand-wringing about tech's impact on democracy – but something more fundamental. What many see on the horizon is an unprecedented fusion of Silicon Valley's power with state authority that could reshape how we govern technology globally.

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The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 218: Emily Laidlaw and Taylor Owen on Saving the Online Harms Act
Aengus Bridgman Aengus Bridgman

The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 218: Emily Laidlaw and Taylor Owen on Saving the Online Harms Act

The Online Harms Act or Bill C-63 was introduced last February after years of false starts, public consultations, and debates. Months later, the bill appears to be stalled in the House of Commons and has yet to make it to committee for further study. Some view that as a win, given their criticism of the bill, though others who have waited years for action against online harms are beginning to fear that the Parliamentary clock is working against them.

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Detecting Disinformation for Democracy
Aengus Bridgman Aengus Bridgman

Detecting Disinformation for Democracy

Analysts, academics, journalists, activists, and politicians assess the effect of disinformation on our democracy. Experts studying mis-and disinformation share their insights on the impact and spread of disinformation, and its potential amplification through social media and the use of artificial intelligence. The special also looks at how to establish guardrails and find solutions to counter the negative effects of disinformation, with an emphasis on the role of media and citizen engagement.

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What happened when Meta restricted news in Canada?
Aengus Bridgman Aengus Bridgman

What happened when Meta restricted news in Canada?

Facebook has officially closed its news tab in Australia, as its parent company Meta - which also owns Instagram - considers completely banning news content completely in Australia.

That's already happened in Canada, where news organisations saw huge declines in online audiences and readers were instead flooded with memes.

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What the tick tock of online regulation says about our digital discourse
Aengus Bridgman Aengus Bridgman

What the tick tock of online regulation says about our digital discourse

It’s been nearly impossible to scroll past the scrutiny of social media giants this past week, after the United States House of Representatives passed a bill that could lead to a ban of TikTok – with Canada now assessing its own review of the app. The social sphere shakeup comes on the backdrop of new online safety legislation and a royal photo bomb that's raising big questions about disinformation online. Piya Chattopadhyay is joined by WIRED senior writer Kate KnibbsTaylor Owen, director of McGill University's Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy; and Philip Mai, co-director of Toronto Metropolitan University's Social Media Lab for their analysis on it all.

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Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen says it's time for accountability from tech giants
Aengus Bridgman Aengus Bridgman

Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen says it's time for accountability from tech giants

Between Canada's Online News Act, Donald Trump's recent indictment tied to the Jan.6 riots and increasing worries over harm, our relationship with social media and big tech companies is more complicated than ever. Frances Haugen, the former Facebook employee who blew the whistle on the company by disclosing thousands of internal documents joins Zandbergen to talk about the standoff between Meta and the Canadian government over Bill C-18 and what she think needs to happen to hold big tech to account.

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