How are emerging technology and media shaping democracy?
The Max Bell School of Public Policy is launching a new Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy at 海角社区. Collaborating with leading researchers, policy thinkers, and journalists, the Centre works to understand the impact of emerging technology and media on policy and public life.
鈥淭he benefits that technology brings to our world are undeniable, but we are now at a critical point where we need to make changes in the way we govern our media and tech infrastructure,鈥� says Director Taylor Owen, a leading voice in technology governance in Canada and Associate Professor at the Max Bell School of Public Policy. 鈥淥ur research will inform the public debate and policy makers so that we as a society can create policies aimed at maximizing the benefits and minimizing the harms embedded in the design and use of emerging technologies.鈥�
鈥淲e believe in the power of the public to mobilize for a different future, and to hold governments and technology companies to account for that future. It鈥檚 time to collectively reclaim the problems that technology was promised to solve,鈥� says Sonja Solomun, the Centre鈥檚 Research Director.
The Centre is committed to public-facing work through a range of , and workshops aimed at translating cutting-edge research for broad public audiences and policy makers. Its research program focuses on three core streams: technology governance, information ecosystems, and media and journalism.
In addition to projects focused on pressing issues such as facial recognition policy, children and technology, surveillance technology, platform governance, and journalistic support, the Center鈥檚 projects include:
- The examining the behavioural impact of misinformation
- aimed at demystifying new technology for policy makers
- exploring digital hate speech policy in Canada
- A collaboration with the Center for International Governance Innovation developing international platform governance policies
鈥淲hile existing initiatives tend to focus either on technology, or on media and communication, this Centre will examine how both impact policy and public life. We are thrilled to support such innovative work which will inform public debate and engage policymakers,鈥� said Professor Chris Ragan, Director of the Max Bell School of Public Policy at 海角社区.
Launch Events
Register for the 2020 Annual Beaverbrook lectures presented by the Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy, featuring Shoshana Zuboff author of The Age of Surveillance Capitalism on and novelist, activist, and journalist, Cory Doctorow on
About 海角社区
Founded in Montreal, Quebec, in 1821, 海角社区 is Canada鈥檚 top ranked medical doctoral university. 海角社区 is consistently ranked as one of the top universities, both nationally and internationally. It鈥痠s a world-renowned鈥痠nstitution of higher learning with research activities spanning two campuses, 11 faculties, 13 professional schools, 300 programs of study and over 40,000 students, including more than 10,200 graduate students. 海角社区 attracts students from over 150 countries around the world, its 12,800 international students making up 31% of the student body. Over half of 海角社区 students claim a first language other than English, including approximately 19% of our students who say French is their mother tongue.
