This really does make it extra egregious that Canada, the EU and Lithuania just chickened out from sponsoring a policy wonk conference after the US government objected to a session describing attempted US foreign interference in the Arctic.

Don Moynihan@donmoyn.bsky.social · 2h ago

Rubio called for "unapologetic pursuit of national power" just weeks after the US Ambassador to Greece (who got the job as a break-up present from the President's son) told Greek officials about overthrowing a country's government: "We can do that to any country we want. We can do it here."

Honestly surprised that the US cares about its image anymore, and surprised that Canada found a reason to buckle under pressure. And wonder whether the GAC officials who made this decision informed the PMO why they were doing so.

Dr Emma L Briant 🇬🇧 in 🇺🇸 w/ 🐕@emma-briant.co.uk · 3h ago

This is shameful of the countries who buckled under the pressure www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

CPHA's position statement adds new dimensions to policy discussion around Bill C-34 by addressing: - all-age populations & platforms beyond social media/AI - Big Tech strategy & influence - and policy tools going beyond regulation, requiring global coordination www.cpha.ca/online-harm

Natalie Brender@nataliebrender.bsky.social · 2d ago

Now online: @cpha-acsp.bsky.social's statement on a nuanced cross-population public health approach to online harms, using a commercial determinants of health lens to identify policy responses. It brings an important new angle to Canadian discussions of Bill C-34 & beyond. www.cpha.ca/online-harm

Trying to imagine the reaction to this in Canadian and other intelligence agencies. Not good.

The Guardian@theguardian.com · yesterday

Germany arrests former intelligence chief over alleged spying

Unbelievable

Canada's National Observer@nationalobserver.com · 2d ago

The decision means that Canadians will not recoup the $40 billion in public funds spent on the project during the 20 year lifespan of its oil shipping contracts, according to regulatory filings.

Yep. British regulator rightly says "Parliament has charged us with the job of regulating an industry that has been unregulated and unaccountable for more than 20 years," and the platforms moan about the regulatory burden. They might just prevail too.

Reuters@reuters.com · 2d ago

Meta, TikTok, X challenge UK watchdog over online safety data demands reut.rs/47AtuN7

Now online: @cpha-acsp.bsky.social's statement on a nuanced cross-population public health approach to online harms, using a commercial determinants of health lens to identify policy responses. It brings an important new angle to Canadian discussions of Bill C-34 & beyond. www.cpha.ca/online-harm

To think that there is nothing to be learned and innovated on from the safety practices of other industries is lunacy. AI tools are power. They are not magical or exempt from safety practices that work for other complex systems. Governing AI requires disenchantment; break the spell.

Pope Leo XIV 'held firm,' in other words refused to countenance the most ridiculous dolts ever You can 'wine and dine' U.S. senators and UK MPs into saying whatever you want, but that really does not work on everybody

Parkscope Joe@parkscopejoe.bsky.social · 5d ago

This is insane.

These American Jewish advocacy organizations are actually more threatened by Mamdani releasing a comprehensive anti-antisemitism plan than they would be by him being openly antisemitic, because it forces them to admit that one can be an anti-Zionist without being antisemitic.

A gift from my former boss, the inimitable Shannon Dea. Donald Trump has proven to be a boon to the Peace by Chocolate people … every utterance gives them a new wrapper to print.

Just because you/I don't understand AI doesn't mean that no one does. So many people buy into this 'poorly understood' line that lets commercially-motivated tech companies off the hook for harms & near-catastrophes. Kudos to @emilymbender.bsky.social & @timnitgebru.blacksky.app for this.

Tamara Kneese@tamigraph.bsky.social · 6d ago

Once again it’s @timnitgebru.blacksky.app and @emilymbender.bsky.social bringing AI panic back down to earth. For the love of god people please listen to them

Behold, Big Social Media putting up billboards in Ottawa trying to finesse the prospect of federal regulation via Bill C-34. (photo credit to my son 🚑)

Rising residential school denialism and anti-Indigenous racism have created an environment where white supremacists feel emboldened to target and intimidate First Nations in their communities. It’s disgusting and completely unacceptable.

Leah ProudLakota (she/her)@leahgazan.bsky.social · last wk.

The act of hate and violence shown by white nationalist residential school denialists demonstrating on the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc First Nation is abhorrent, dangerous and unacceptable. Read my full statement here:

This is the most surprising geopolitical thing to happen to the eminently 'worthwhile Canadian initiative' policywonkery of @policyoptions.irpp.org (of which I'm very fond, and fully share its steep AI learning curve).

Jess Davis@jessmarindavis.bsky.social · last wk.

This is getting super interesting. While I'm not certain yet what exactly is going on, at the moment, it seems like Canada was used to establish the bona fides of an AI "journalist" who subsequently went on to engage in foreign interference in Morocco..... www.turkiyetoday.com/world/exclus...

Props to the Goodbot policy wonks for this important series of briefs on how Canada's broken lobbying rules enable Big Tech to circumvent public interest governance. Essential to reform if there's any hope of online safety and privacy regulation to succeed.

LOBBYING PART II: INCOGNITO MODE How Canada’s Lobbying Loopholes Hide Big Tech’s Policy Influence Machine — goodbot

The full report is available HERE Written by Renee Black, Edward Wu, Femi Gbolahan, Kaitlin Bustos, Ayla Khan and Mathushan Thialikanathan Edited by Courtney Doagoo Part II of our four-part ...

goodbot.ca

"Yes to sovereignty. But not at any cost. Sovereignty as a means of buying ourselves the ability to craft our own policies, and pursue our own values." progressdevelopment.substack.com/p/sovereignt...

Sovereignty is the means not the end

What can we learn from a unique exercise that listens to Canadians talk about foreign policy?

progressdevelopment.substack.com

I was involved in a foreign policy deliberative democracy exercise this spring, and the report was just released Basically, they take 400 Canadians, an exact demographic cross-section, who spend a weekend discussing foreign policy www.global-canada.org/foreign-poli...

🔥Today's moment of sweet sanity and public interest governance

More Perfect Union@moreperfectunion.bsky.social · 2w ago

BREAKING: The state of New York is suing Polymarket, claiming the company operates an illegal gambling platform in violation of state gambling laws.

Well, now how does the Canadian military feel about F-35s?

Gabriel Kahn@gabekahn.bsky.social · 2w ago

U.S. military sends top-secret F-35 parts by UPS from Australia. China intercepts package in Hong Kong, won't give it back.

“If you are staring at an example of social disorder or social inefficiency, and the left refuses to explain either why it has happened or how they will fix it, then the right gets to point at someone in the immediate area and say, ‘That’s who did it.’” crazy how much Mamdani speaks my language

Cannot stress enough how much learning from Agnes Callard plus the tech bros should not be a thing.

Faine Greenwood@faineg.com · 2w ago

Big names in AI and Silicon Valley tech announced yesterday that they're launching a boarding academy for 16 to 22 year olds. (Would you trust the people in this scene with keeping an eye on minors?) theacademysf.com

There’s a concerted campaign to undermine EDI in Canada. The evidence behind EDI policies reducing excellence are based on abysmal, flawed evidence. Look at who feels threatened by equity, diversity and inclusion. They’re the least diverse, least equitable and most exclusive people. Just no.

Jehannine (J9) Austin@j9austin.bsky.social · 2w ago

Well, this is ...something: universityaffairs.ca/news/remove-... I am tired. So very tired. This is really hard work. #AcademicSky 🧪

It's not flooding the zone, it's seizing a crisis in order to ram through a slew of rapid fire changes that are a gift to multinational corporations and are the opposite of what we ran on. What do you call that again?

Rachel Gilmore@rachelgilmore.bsky.social · 2w ago

A reporter asked the government about the Trumpian tactic of flooding the zone with this bill (it’s an omnibus!) and the ministers appear outraged. They balk at a question that…accurately characterizes what they’re doing. If you don’t like it, don’t do it!

Kudos to UOttawa prof Jason Millar for this excellently put summary of the 'existential AI' warnings and their larger context: profjasonmillar.substack.com/p/we-have-fa...

This is a big deal!! Good for both of them.

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 2w ago

look at El-Sayed's face as Kamala Harris brings up fibroids 😆

"We will continue to go with Canada." Trump tries very hard to struggle against reality but it always wins out in the end.

MAKS 26 👀🇺🇦@maks23.bsky.social · 2w ago

🗣️How does the deal look with Lukashenko over potash? Are you concerned that money would strengthen Russia's hand in the war? 🇺🇸Trump: No. Belarus has a lot of potash. We want to get a lower price in Canada. We will continue to go with Canada, but Belarus would like to sell it for a much lower price.

DEI for a computer program. Amazing.

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 2w ago

Trump tells the UN he is officially changing the name of Artificial Intelligence to "Super Intelligence" and says all US government documents will now be changed to refer to "SI"

Woe to the academic journal indexers and all US academics preparing grant proposals.

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 2w ago

Trump tells the UN he is officially changing the name of Artificial Intelligence to "Super Intelligence" and says all US government documents will now be changed to refer to "SI"

Miss academic freedom (US) and / or job security, decent wages and pensions (UK)? @gspia-esapi.bsky.social in 🇨🇦’s beautiful capital is mega-hiring! We have two posts in security (one open rank) and one in democracy and technology (open rank). Open as to field. French an asset. DM if interested.