Big Tech doesn’t just sell services — it governs daily life. In a new @theglobeandmail.com op-ed, SRI Faculty Affiliate @profwhw.bsky.social argues that platforms function as unelected governors and, accordingly, must be held accountable. 🔗 Read more: www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...

#OpenAccess from the new issue of Ethics & International Affairs - Governing Artificial Intelligence: Designing Professional Structures for the Predictive Age - https://cup.org/4kSYa24 - @profwhw.bsky.social#OpenAccess& David A. Lake #AI

🗞️ ICYMI: When Big Tech systems fail, everyday life grinds to a halt. That’s not just a tech problem, it’s a governance problem. My recent op-ed in @theglobeandmail.com offers a sneak peek at the argument in my forthcoming book, Mirrored States. 🔗

🧵1/5 I have a new op-ed in The Globe and Mail that offers a preview of my next book.

@profwhw.bsky.social is super sharp on the state of big tech, so read her G&M piece www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti... We need to regulate the tech companies.

(Paywall): Big Tech companies govern, unelected, through data-intensive platforms. It’s time we explicitly acknowledge that, writes @profwhw.bsky.social via @theglobeandmail.com

Over the holidays, I had the pleasure of chatting with CBC's Chris Walker on Daybreak South. For me, the most significant development in AI in 2025 was the sensation surrounding LLMs—their promise and their limitations. Listen to the segment on CBCListen's website 🎧

This whole convo is fantastic - 1.5 hours of very informative chat on climate justice vs the gross economics of tech Ft @naomiaklein.bsky.social @profwhw.bsky.social @profhvdv.bsky.social, hosted at @ccj-ubc.bsky.social youtu.be/27BHQhkK52I

More Battle Rhythm!! I talk with Linna Tam-Seto about CAF personnel stuff and then @profwhw.bsky.social interviews @madisonschramm.bsky.social about her work on democracies fighting dictators. open.substack.com/pub/cdsn/p/e...

Give a listen - I know you'll enjoy learning from @madisonschramm.bsky.social as much as I did!

🚨The video recording of the AI and the Politics of Extraction panel is now live! Watch this fascinating 1.5 hour discussion with @naomiaklein.bsky.social, @profwhw.bsky.social, @mysdick.bsky.social, and @profhvdv.bsky.social as they explore the risks of unfettered AI implementation.

💬 Reminder to save your spot for "AI and the Politics of Extraction" at UBC's Centre for Climate Justice. I'm on a panel moderated by Carol Liao, and we will be discussing the complex political and legal issues raised by AI-enabled resource extraction. 🗓️Nov. 20 🕰️2-3:30pm 📍In-Person & Zoom

This is happening Wednesday! Come join us at UBC's School of Law, where I will be arguing that we have to move beyond “monopoly” to characterize Big Tech’s outsize influence on modern society. Details about registration at the link below 🔗

Really looking forward to visiting UBC's School of Law! If you're interested in Big Tech and governance, come join us on November 19 (either in-person or virtually!) 👩‍💻

Don't wait to sign up! I'm excited to talking about these very important issues with my fellow panelists! Yea, I'll be talking about human rights. 😉

Just saw the article in NYT by @maxkasy.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2025/11/02/o... He's absolutely 💯 right about the fact data enable AI. It's nice to see others out there with the same core arguments I advanced in We, the Data 📘 - without data, we don't have the AI systems we have today.

👻 Anything spookier than unchecked #BigTech? Come hang out with me at the @ubcokanagan.bsky.social Faculty of Management on Halloween for #IdeaFest! 🎃 In-person event: 31-Oct 12-1pm in EME 4116. Registration not required. #bigtech #governance #wethedata

On the way home from the incredible Attention: Govern or Be Governed conference hosted by @mediatechdemocracy.bsky.social @taylorowen.bsky.social spent two days listening to hard and hopeful presentations, hanging out (in person!) with Valerie Kindarji. Thank you! Great goodies to take home too :)

Valérie Kindarji and I are in the Montreal Gazette this morning arguing that #AILiteracy ought to be a priority in Canada's leap into the AI future. montrealgazette.com/opinion/op_e...

techcrunch.com/2025/10/16/a... yeeeeeah

📻 Recently, I had a great chat with Linda Morra from @ubishops.bsky.social on her show, #GettingLitWithLinda. We talked about how #datafication reframes issues of consent, and why libraries are more important than ever. ▶️ Have a listen here: #bigdata #wethedata #datafication #humanrights

🗣️ Calling all library workers! I'll be talking about AI & Human Rights at the British Columbia Library Association @bcla.bsky.social! Nov. 6 2025 @ 2-3:30pm (PT). This is a free virtual event w/ a Q&A so don't hesitate to bring your questions ☺️ Register here 👇 #humanrights #ethicalai #wethedata

The Toronto Public Library (TPL) Digital Expo is coming up on October 4. The theme is incredibly timely: Bridging the #AIDivide. I'll be speaking on a panel about #EthicalAI. Hope to see you there! You can check out my co-panelists, and register at the link below👇

I am really looking forward to speaking @mcmasteruniversity.bsky.social Master of Public Policy Program on Sep. 22! I'll be talking about tech, rights, and the future of our digital lives. Register here before Sep. 21st 👇 bit.ly/wethedata #humanrights #wethedata #mcmasterevents

We ought to think about #AI as a #humanrights issue. 💬 Sep. 16, I will be back in Toronto to give the Frank W. Woods lecture at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy. Come join us! Registration and info here👇 munkschool.utoronto.ca/event/we-dat... #bigdata #humanrights #wethedata

The Toronto Public Library (TPL) annual Digital Expo is coming up in October! 🍁 This year's theme: Bridging the AI Divide. I'll be on a panel discussing #ethicalAI, and how we can achieve that delicate balance between data privacy, security, and public trust. Program and Registration here👇

Our latest #BattleRhythm with @profwhw.bsky.social and I talking about Canada/Carney's stance on Palestine and an interview with the Canadian general in charge of cyber command MG Dave Yarker cdsn.substack.com/p/episode-33...

Jamie Duncan and I are in the @theglobeandmail.com this week! 🗞️ In this piece, we argue that Carney's ambitious plans to enhance Canada's sovereignty is a worthy goal, but requires the simultaneous consideration of several trade-offs. Have a read here 👇 #bigdata #datasovereignty #wethedata

I contributed to Critical AI’s two-part special issue, and it is now live on the @dukepress.bsky.social website! In this article, I respond to Anthropic AI’s Samuel Bowman on the matter of today’s LLMs. 🔐 For 2 weeks, this issue is open to the public: #bigdata #humanrights

Everyone will need to read this! 📖🤓 Great cover, even better innards. @greenprofgreen.bsky.social has no shortage of smart and zippy insights on climate change, the politics of carbon, and why we need to think about the financial assets that contribute to/mitigate global warming.

"We, the Data: Human Rights in the Digital Age," by @profwhw.bsky.social explores how Big Tech's data tracking undermines our humanity. The winner of the 2024 Balsillie Prize joins @spaikin.bsky.social to unpack the cost of digital surveillance.

I had a fantastic time presenting @ Re-Sounding Poetries event led by SpokenWeb SSHRC Partnership [spokenweb.ca], in collab w/ the AMP Lab. Thank you Karis Shearer & Klara du Plessis for chairing this discussion on critical data issues & for organizing the institute. #wethedata #spokenweb #bigdata

Thank you to Steve Paikin and to the @tvotoday.bsky.social team for having me on, I had a fantastic time working with you!

Congratulations to Wendy Wong @profwhw.bsky.social whose upcoming work MIRRORED STATES has been sold to Nick Garrison and Marion Garner at Penguin Canada by Martha Webb! 🎉

Catch Battle Rhythm co-host Dr. Wendy Wong @profwhw.bsky.social on The Agenda with Steve Paikin @tvotoday.bsky.social May 20th!

Tonight, I'm on @tvotoday.bsky.social The Agenda w/ the brilliant Steve Paikin(tune in 8pm & 11pm ET! 📺) We chatted re: data stickiness, human rights values in the digital age, & the importance of data literacy. ➡️ www.youtube.com/theagenda ➡️ www.tvo.org/theagenda #wethedata #bigdata #dataliteracy

I am so excited about this new project! Now, back to writing ⌨️

🗞️ A second Signal mistake by Hegseth. I wrote in the Globe and Mail about this. Hegseth pointing fingers at leakers w/o thinking about the truth of digital comms. Encryption & sec. protocols do not preclude data stickiness when sharing w/ the wrong person, especially w/ national security concerns.

Great convo w/ Profs. Dan Priel & Richard Haigh from Osgoode Hall Law School to chat about my recent book, "We, the Data" and the need to re-imagine human rights in our data-intensive world. Check out the episode on Spotify & iHeart Radio 📻 #datagov #wethedata #bigtech

Tomorrow [Apr. 17] I will be at the Vancouver Human Rights and Accommodation Conference. My fellow panelists and I will be addressing the potential challenges and uses of AI at work. Thx to Lancaster House Publishing for organizing this important event! Registration 👇 #aiatwork #datagov #wethedata

🗣️ Our Digital Transparency Cluster (DTC), in collab w/ @universityofexeter.bsky.social is hosting a workshop on Preparing for an AI Future. True to DTC's mission, the experts hail from diverse disciplinary backgrounds, including computer science, humanities, & AI industry. #datagov #aifutures

I'm in the March/April 2025 issue of the Director Journal by the Institute of Corporate Directors talking about how control of your data lies beyond your hands, even after death. You can check out the interview on pp. 48-49 📰 #datagov #bigdata #wethedata

I'm in the @theglobeandmail.com 🗞️ Signal & 23andMe are both in the news this week for different reasons, but they raise the same concerns about non-gov entities which store & control our data. Policymakers take note: those who control the data are in charge. #datagov #bigdata #23andme #signal

🍁 Canadian public servants, register for the Data for Impact series, an initiative of the Canada School of Public Service. Thu. March 27 @ 1:30-2:30pm (ET) I'll be talking about data governance, human rights, and human potential. Read more and register here 👇 #canpoli #wethedata #dataforimpact

In "We, the Data," political scientist @profwhw.bsky.social argues for a human rights framework to reassert our personhood, autonomy, and dignity in the face of datafication. She joined CBC Radio's IDEAS to explain what it means to be "datafied":

Thank you so much @carletonu.bsky.social for having me as your 2025 Political Science Keynote. In this talk, I asked us to think about a big question: 💭 What if we think of data as from humans, by humans? As co-creators of data that is gathered and used, we urgently need human rights values.

I was on the CBC Ideas 💡 podcast w/ the brilliant Nahlah Ayed, talking about data stickiness and how we need to become stakeholders in the data we co-create. Thank you to the fantastic production team at CBC! Listen on CBC Listen App, or your fave app 👉 link.chtbl.com/IDEAS. #ideas #wethedata #cbc

On Wednesday, I will be in #Victoria for the International Privacy and Security Summit #VIPSS organized by @rebootcomm.bsky.social. As the opening keynote speaker, I will be discussing why human rights questions around AI are actually data questions. I'll be on March 12 @ 8:40am -- register here!👇

My keynote lecture Carleton University (carletonu.bsky.social) is tomorrow at 5pm. I'll be talking about data governors and human rights. Hope to see you there! You can register below:

A great opportunity to hear @profwhw.bsky.social talk about her book (We the Data) here at Carleton.