How well does Canada’s new electoral framework safeguard elections? CSDI Assistant Director @cjten.bsky.social discusses the strengths and limitations of Bill C-25 in The Hill Times, and the big challenge of boosting citizen engagement with high-quality information. www.hilltimes.com/2026/07/20/b...

Bill C-25 a ‘security patch,’ but more could be done to preserve electoral confidence, say experts - The Hill Times

Bill C-25 clarifies or expands some of the existing prohibitions already in the Canada Elections Act, including certain types of false claims with the intent to undermine elections, according to polit...

hilltimes.com

UBC Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions@ubcdemocracy.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Canada’s election laws may soon get a much-needed security patch, in the form of Bill C-25. But @cjten.bsky.social told a House of Commons committee this week that a major upgrade to our democratic operating system will still be needed. tinyurl.com/952mdu2y

Check out this new article by recent UBC graduate Marie Erikson on how to ensure chatbots inform rather than manipulate voters who turn to AI for election advice:

Chatbot Voting Advice Could Help and Harm Voters. Let’s Regulate Accordingly.

Popular generative AI chatbots will provide voting advice to users who ask. Marie Erikson explores the challenges and opportunities this presents.

techpolicy.press

What are CSDI's Director @heiditworek.bsky.social and Assistant Director @cjten.bsky.social saying about Canada's new AI strategy? Read more about  what this strategy could mean in articles from The Hill Times and Ubyssey, linked in the bio.

When AI goes to war, who holds the kill switch? Nishtha Gupta argues middle powers are building their most sensitive military functions on foreign chips, models, and cloud infrastructure they can't defend—renting their futures from landlords who answer to someone else.

What Middle Powers Risk In AI-Powered War

While great powers develop military AI while resisting binding constraints, middle powers are living with strategic vulnerability, writes Nishtha Gupta.

techpolicy.press

Great piece from Jon Penney and Bruce Schneier: Chilling effects of Trump’s war on free speech extend far beyond campus walls – and that’s the point theconversation.com/chilling-eff...

Chilling effects of Trump’s war on free speech extend far beyond campus walls – and that’s the point

A persistent government strategy to sow fear through punitive measures has corroded freedom and democracy.

theconversation.com

Yesterday I had the pleasure of discussing election law and tech policy with the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs. Here are my testimony and reflections: tenove.com/2026/05/26/p....

Parliamentary Testimony on the Strong and Free Elections Act

This morning I had the pleasure of appearing before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, which was discussing Bill C-25 (“Strong and Free Elections Act”). The bil…

tenove.com

Do Canadians still care about climate change? Our panel on April 29th at the Vancouver Public Library explored how affordability pressures, misinformation, and geopolitical tensions are reshaping climate politics in Canada. Read more about the panel and watch the recording below! bit.ly/4dCf7dQ

Do We Still Care About Climate Change? | Culture @ VPL | April 29, 2026

On April 29, 2026, VPL hosted a panel conversation on climate change, in partnership with ‪@democracyxchange (as part of DXC+ Vancouver) and the @UBCDemocracy Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions (UBC). -- Description from event listing below -- Cost of living and jobs. Housing affordability. Trump. These are currently the top concerns for people living in Canada, according to recent polls. Climate change is an ever growing existential threat to our species, yet many polls show climate is not a top priority. Even our Prime Minister did not mention the word “climate” once in his famous Davos speech—and is now pitching Canada as an energy superpower. What does this mean for communities on the frontlines of climate change, who have been fighting against new energy projects? Or for communities who want the jobs and economic opportunities from these industries? And how can citizens and governments address these tensions? Come hear a conversation about where the climate conversation stands in Canada, from three people with different experiences in climate politics and policymaking: Eugene Kung, staff lawyer for West Coast Environmental Law. Andrea Reimer, former Vancouver City Councillor who spearheaded the Greenest City plan. Seth Klein, author of A Good War and founder of Climate Emergency Unit. Moderated by Chris Tenove, Assistant Director of UBC's Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions. – This event is presented in partnership with UBC's Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions and is part of DXC+ Vancouver by DemocracyXChange.

bit.ly

📢 #EVENT: Our editor-in-chief David Beers, alongside these other incredible panelists, will talk everything media democracy in this fireside chat on May 28 at 5:30 p.m. at the Vancouver Harbour Centre. 📰 Reserve your ticket for the free event and learn more here. 👇🏽 #CdnMedia #canpoli

Media Democracy Days: Spry Memorial Panel

A fireside chat between people in the public media space. In today’s media landscape, the urgency to revive MDD cannot be overstated.

eventbrite.ca

New in JEPOP from @mathieulavigne.bsky.social: "The findings suggest that combatting misinformation has become a negatively valenced concept on the right and highlight how the politicization of misinformation debates can influence our ability to respond to it" www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

❗A recent investigation revealed that fake YouTube videos promoting Alberta separatism are reaching millions. 🧵Listen @cjten.bsky.social: toronto.citynews.ca/podcasts/the... 👉Read the Canadian Digital Media Research Network @meo-cdmrn.bsky.social investigation: www.cdmrn.ca/slopaganda-t...

❗Event Alert! 👉Join us for a conversation on “Do We Still Care About Climate Change?” with @Eugene Kung, @andreareimer.bsky.social , and @sethdklein.bsky.social. Event moderated by @cjten.bsky.social. 🔗More info here: vpl.bibliocommons.com/events/69c6d...

Do We Still Care About Climate Change?

Cost of living and jobs. Housing affordability. Trump. These are currently the top concerns for people living in Canada, according to recent polls. Climate change is an ever growing existential threa...

vpl.bibliocommons.com

I know a lot of people are using AI to replace therapy, but all I’m talking about to my real life therapist is my anxiety over AI

Want to talk about renewing democracy, and making citizens a real part of it? Then check out this Tyee article about Democracy's Second Act with @davidmoscrop.com, and then register for the event tonight at the VPL with @jenstden.bsky.social @thetyee.ca thetyee.ca/Culture/2026...

Power to the People! Ready for Democracy’s Second Act? | The Tyee

How do we rev up the role of citizen? A free event Wednesday explores the question. Here’s a Q&A preview.

thetyee.ca

Lovely fact from Sarah Cox, new at @thetyee.ca: a society on Vancouver Island built a highway underpass "so red-legged frogs and salamanders can safely navigate the busy road. They call themselves SPLAT... the Society for the Prevention of Little Amphibian Tragedies.” thetyee.ca/Tyeenews/202...

Sarah Cox Joins The Tyee as Our New Biodiversity Reporter | The Tyee

She brings decades of experience and will be the lead reporter on a new beat. A Tyee Q&A.

thetyee.ca

Looking forward to joining this in-person Vancouver event April 29. Spaces are filling up fast. Do We Still Care About Climate Change? vpl.bibliocommons.com/events/69c6d...

Do We Still Care About Climate Change?

Cost of living and jobs. Housing affordability. Trump. These are currently the top concerns for people living in Canada, according to recent polls. Climate change is an ever growing existential threa...

vpl.bibliocommons.com

🧵 3 papers by me & my team Ullrich Ecker Fabio Carrella Emily Spearing Almog Simchon ask an urgent question: if you tell people they're being manipulated by AI — deepfakes, AI-written articles, microtargeted ads — is the manipulation defanged? Thread 👇 1/10

We have lost a giant, and a hero to countless social justice activists across Canada and around the world. My thoughts & memories on the passing of Stephen Lewis: open.substack.com/pub/sethdkle...

Thanks for sharing that @lizneeley.bsky.social. For a view from Canada, here’s a brief on what universities can do to help support researchers that may face online abuse. bsky.app/profile/ubcd...

Liz Neeley@lizneeley.bsky.social · 5mo ago

I’m grateful for faculty with expertise and track record on prevention & response plans for targeted harassment. I’m most familiar with @rebekahtromble.bsky.social’s projects researchersupport.org & expertvoicestogether.org - I’m sure she can recommend others for everyone who needs help now

Companies position these apps as democratic participation, but researchers such as Fenwick McKelvey & CSDI’s @cjten.bsky.social suggest they may undermine trust and transparency in online campaigns.

Stronger regulations are needed, Tenove says, to “reset the playing field so you're not at a disadvantage for avoiding doing stuff that seems unethical or undemocratic.” Read the full article: www.nationalobserver.com/2026/02/24/i...

Politicians are being sold AI-powered 'digital fighters'

A new app gets around bot bans by recruiting real people to post political messages generated by AI.

nationalobserver.com

🤖 Cyborg propaganda? Tech companies are looking for new methods of circumventing digital platform rules and election laws in order to shape election discourse, and sometimes that means bringing humans into the loop. www.nationalobserver.com/2026/02/24/i...

Politicians are being sold AI-powered 'digital fighters'

A new app gets around bot bans by recruiting real people to post political messages generated by AI.

nationalobserver.com

“The idea that you would give your contact book information to a party without the consent of the people in your address book is deeply problematic." @cjten.bsky.social discusses AI-powered political campaign tools via @nationalobserver.com

Politicians are being sold AI-powered 'digital fighters'

A new app gets around bot bans by recruiting real people to post political messages generated by AI.

nationalobserver.com

My latest story is out. Bots get banned on social media. The workaround? Real humans posting AI-generated messages in a gamified system, coordinated by an AI command centre. And it's being offered to your local town councillor. www.nationalobserver.com/2026/02/24/i...

Canadian politicians are being sold AI-powered civilian patrols

A new app gets around bot bans by recruiting real people to post political messages generated by AI.

nationalobserver.com

How do vaccine and climate debates unfold online, and how can social scientists study them at scale? Join Johanna Klapproth, Mark Shakespear, @lauraknelson.bsky.social, and @cjten.bsky.social to discuss research strategies and how they can inform real-world policy. www.eventbrite.ca/e/computatio...

Computational Social Science in Action: Vaccine & Climate Policy Narratives

How do vaccine and climate policy debates unfold online—and how can social scientists study them rigorously at scale?

eventbrite.ca

We’re thrilled that The Security of Self: A Human-Centric Approach to Cybersecurity is out, just in time for some holiday reading! The book’s contributors—including CSDI directors @cjten.bsky.social and @heiditworek.bsky.social—put people at the centre of understanding and advancing cybersecurity.

Across Alberta, municipalities are weighing the pros and cons of hosting AI data centres. I used @nationalobserver.com's Civic Searchlight tool to figure out which towns are looking at data centres and dig into how they are thinking about the costs & benefits www.nationalobserver.com/2025/12/16/n...

Alberta towns see AI data centres as 'second coming of oil' — but some worry at what cost

Municipalities across Alberta are trying to figure out whether they can — or should — try to cash in on the influx of AI data centre developers looking to set up shop in the province. For some council...

nationalobserver.com

In the "everyday more bad news" category: Trump Administration Turning to Private Firms in Cyber Offensive 🧵 www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Trump Administration Turning to Private Firms in Cyber Offensive

President Donald Trump’s administration is preparing to turn to private businesses to help mount offensive cyberattacks against foreign adversaries, according to people familiar with the matter, poten...

bloomberg.com

Step 1. Use AI to generate glossy conspiracy videos about climate change and Health Canada at scale Step 2. Monetize in a Shopify store selling merch Read my latest investigation into why conspiracy-commerce businesses are the logical endpoint of attention economy.

Inside the AI-powered conspiracy machine selling ‘Truthwear’ to Canadians

Multiple researchers told Canada’s National Observer that conspiracy companies like Mutinni are the inevitable result of artificial intelligence colliding with the attention economy. Social media algo...

nationalobserver.com

Remember when the internet wasn't awful? We can go back to that. Some friends and I have released the Resonant Computing Manifesto: a call to bring back such a time, to see if we can bring back a world where technology works for us, rather than against us. resonantcomputing.org

The Resonant Computing Manifesto

Technology should bring out the best in humanity, not the worst—a manifesto for resonant computing built on five principles that reject hyper-scale extraction for human flourishing.

resonantcomputing.org

Very happy to see this thoughtful approach to AI from @thetyee.ca

The Tyee@thetyee.ca · 8mo ago

Sorry, servers of AI. We are a human-powered organization. #CdnMedia #GenerativeAI