It’s been a dizzying stretch since the launch of Chat GPT, with artificial intelligence regulation and policy bursting forward as top concern in Canada and around the world. From a Canadian perspective, Bill C-27 got most of its initial attention for its privacy provisions, but its inclusion of an AI bill – AIDA – has emerged as a huge issue in its own right. Meanwhile, the government has also quietly been pushing ahead with new generative AI guidelines that may debut this week. Bianca Wylie is a writer and an open government and public technology advocate with a dual background in technology and public engagement. She’s become increasingly uncomfortable with the AI regulatory process in Canada and she joins the Law Bytes podcast to provide her thoughts about AIDA, generative AI regulation, and a process she believes is in dire need of fixing.
Articles by: Michael Geist
six pixels of seperation: Michael Geist On Meta Blocking News Links And The Future Of Media
I appeared on the six pixels of seperation podcast on September 3, 2023. In the episode, we discussed Bill C-18, Meta’s blocking of news links in Canada, and what those developments mean for the future of media. The link to the episode is here.
Why the Government is Quietly Undermining Competition Bureau Independence in Bill C-56
The government unveiled Bill C-56 yesterday, legislation it touts as supporting the building of more rental homes (through tax measures) and stabilizing grocery prices (through Competition Act reforms). While the proposed Competition Act changes include increased investigative and merger blocking powers for the Competition Bureau as well as the long overdue elimination of the efficiencies defence, the bill also includes provisions that undermine Competition Bureau independence. The government is not promoting those changes – there is no reference to it in the press release – but bill gives it broad powers to order inquiries into any market or industry and dictate the terms of the inquiry to the Competition Bureau. Those reforms are not subject to any significant limitations and are open to potential abuse.
No Nonsense with Pamela Wallin: The Consequences of C-18 with Michael Geist
I appeared on the No Nonsense podcast hosted by Pamela Wallin on September 21, 2023. In the episode, we discussed Bill C-18 and its wide-ranging implications, from free speech to the future of free trade. The link to the episode is here.
J-TalksLive: Bill C-18 – What’s at Stake for Journalism and Canadian Democracy?
I appeared on the Canadian Journalism Foundation’s J-TalksLive series on September 20, 2023. There, I discussed the potential implications of this legislation for journalists, news outlets, news consumers, and Canadian democracy. The link to the video can be found here.
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