Government of Ontario publishes plan for digital ID projects
The Government of Ontario recently published new information about
its approach to future digital ID projects. Included in the plan is the Ontario government’s digital ID vision, key principles that will guide the government’s work in this space, a technology roadmap, and relevant standards. Ontario’s Digital ID will use self-sovereign identity while layering in additional privacy features: consent, data minimization, and anonymity.
NYU report discusses disinformation and polarization online
The NYU Centre for Business and Human Rights published a
report this month about the impact of social media platforms and online forums on disinformation and political polarization in the United States. According to the report, “social media platforms are not the main cause of rising partisan hatred, but use of these platforms intensifies divisiveness and thus contributes to its corrosive effects.” The report offers a series of recommendations for how the government and the social media industry can reduce polarization.
Ottawa-based synthetic data firm publishes white paper on regulating non-identifiable data
An Ottawa-based firm that focuses on synthetic data and other privacy enhancing technologies recently published a
white paper about regulating non-identifiable data. While privacy legislation generally regulates the collection, storage, use, and disclosure of personally identifiable information, there is less certainty regarding the use of non-identifiable information globally. The paper offers one perspective on how non-identifiable data could be regulated.
Startup Genome releases 2021 update to the global startup ecosystem report
Startup Genome, in collaboration with the Global Entrepreneurship Network has published the 2021 update to its
Global Startup Ecosystem Report. The report ranks startup ecosystems around the world according to six factors: performance, funding, connectedness, market reach, knowledge, and talent. Three Canadian ecosystems made the report’s top 30 + runners-up list: Toronto-Waterloo, which ranked number 14, Vancouver, which ranked number 29, and Montreal, which ranked number 31.
With the election over, several key election promises will impact the digital economy
With the election now over, a number of election promises will impact the digital economy. Specifically, the Liberal party
platform includes promises to:
- (re)introduce legislation to reform the Broadcasting Act, implement the Digital Charter (and a made-in-Canada model for open banking), and modernize the tax system to account for digital giants
- reform the SR&ED Program; establish a $75 million-a-year fund for colleges and universities to commercialize research and secure patent rights; establish a Canada Advanced Research Projects Agency; move forward with the Pan-Canadian AI and National Quantum Strategies
- implement a range of clean and renewable energy, clean technology, and other green economy measures: tax credits, capital investments, a Border Carbon Adjustments, etc.