Why Regulate Platform Design Instead

AI chatbots are encouraging violence, social media is hurting kids, and Ottawa is still trying to figure out how to regulate the harms of the internet after two very public failed attempts. Host Noor Azrieh and Taylor Owen, professor and member of the federal task force on AI and online safety, dig into the federal government’s latest Online Harms push. 

Why does regulating the internet, especially its nastier corners, keep proving so hard to actually do?

PLUS, we hear from Thomas Juneau, former defence analyst and current professor of Middle Eastern security & intelligence, on what a possible Canadian intervention in the region could look like.

Host: Noor Azrieh

Credits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Host/Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Producer), Mia Johnson (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Max Collins (Director of Audio) Jesse Brown (Editor), Tony Wang (Artwork)

Guests: Taylor Owen, Thomas Juneau

Background reading:

• Canada could be the next nation to ban social media for kids – POLITICO
• Online harms bill needs framework for reporting threats in AI chats, experts say – The Globe and Mail
• Justin Ling: Canada has studied the problem of online harms enough. Now we need to solve it – Toronto Star
• The world wants to ban children from social media, but there will be grave consequences for us all | Taylor Lorenz – The Guardian
• Canada’s rhetorical support for the war on Iran has an audience of one: Donald Trump– The Globe and Mail

Sponsors: 

Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with your Douglas purchase today at douglas.ca/canadaland

Visit fizz.ca to learn more about Fizz mobile and its long list of added-value features, and activate a first plan using the referral code CAN25 to get 25$ off and 10GB of free data.

Buy your next car today with CarGurus at cargurus.ca to make sure your big deal is the best deal.

Did you know we have a monthly supporter-exclusive show? We just recorded an episode about rabbit holes, deep dives and obsessions.

If you want to hear that (or if you want to catch up on all the great episodes of Off The Record you’ve missed!), you can listen to these amazing, support-exclusive episodes for cheap RIGHT NOW by going to canadaland.com/join. 

If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. 

Can't get enough Canadaland? Follow @Canadaland_Podcasts on Instagram for clips, announcements, explainers and more.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.