Media Interviews
For media inquiries, please contact Isabelle Corriveau at isabelle.corriveau2@mcgill.ca
‘This law was created by and for big media:’ Google’s news deal with Canada raises hopes and concerns
Google signed a deal with a collective to distribute $100 million to Canadian news companies in early June. However, some small players believe they have not been sufficiently heard and are worried about the future
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.
A Silence Is Shattered, and So Are Many Fans of Alice Munro
Admirers said they were “blindsided” by revelations that Munro’s youngest daughter had been abused by her stepfather — and that Munro stayed with him even after she learned of it years later.
Does the Online Harms Act go too far?
Some have portrayed the Online Harms Act as a total affront to freedom of expression online.
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.
Youth advocates funded by CIRA Grant poised to influence Online Harms Legislation
In an age where individuals, especially youth, are chronically online, online safety policies are more important than ever. We sat down with past Net Good Grant recipient, the Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy at McGill University, to hear how they’re helping build a trusted internet in Canada.
Should Canada Ban TikTok? | The Agenda | Full Episode
The U.S. is inching closer to a potential ban on the popular app. What would it mean if Canada followed suit?
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 Knibbs; Taylor 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.
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.
‘She’s coming into a hot seat’: St-Onge takes on Heritage file with neither government nor big tech ‘prepared to stand down or blink’
Pascale St-Onge is taking on an already hot file, meanwhile, ‘waiting in the wings' is one of the most controversial pieces of internet regulation legislation, says Michael Geist.
Far and Widening: The Rise of Polarization in Canada
The Public Policy Forum today released a new report on polarization in Canada that makes the case that the country is not immune to the corrosive forces sweeping democracies worldwide.
Why competition law has failed Canadian media
Our competition authorities have focused too narrowly on economic factors, neglecting the importance of editorial diversity.
Disentangling the Online News Act
The Online News Act (Bill C-18) is now law, and absolutely everyone has described it poorly and created confusion about what it's actually all about. I talk with McGill University's Taylor Owen about the aims of the legislation and how we should be thinking of it. Let's talk #cdnpoli.
Google and Meta have made 6,773 grants to news publishers: What are they up to?
An academic has analysed Google and Facebook's payments to news publishers.
Trudeau government halts advertising on Facebook and Instagram in clash over online news law
In its first direct response to threats from big tech platforms promising to retaliate against the Liberals’ controversial online news law, the federal government announced Wednesday it would halt all advertising on Meta’s Facebook and Instagram.
Quebec and Montreal governments suspend ads on Facebook and Instagram
“The whole world is looking at Canada right now,” says Michaël Nguyen, president of Quebec’s Professional Federation of Journalists, as several Canadian governments decided to pull their ads from Meta platforms on Wednesday. Diona Macalinga reports.
Is pulling ads enough to put pressure on Meta?
Supriya Dwivedi discusses the latest moves by Canada to put pressure on Meta and Google in the standoff over C-18.
Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen: “I wouldn’t wish Mark Zuckerberg’s life on anyone”
In 2021 she shone a light on misinformation and online harm. Now she’s “extremely worried” about Big Tech’s impact on the 2024 US election.
Former CRTC head proposes compromise between Liberals and Big Tech over news blocking
The Liberals can solve the ongoing impasse with Meta and Google by making the Big Tech platforms pay into a fund for news outlets, Konrad von Finckenstein says
How will Google and Meta’s pledge to block Canadian news affect you? Here’s what to know
Big changes could be coming to the way Google and Meta let you access news on their platforms. We provide answers to the big questions around the decisions.