CIGI Newsletter: February 20th, 2024
Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI)
CIGI offers expert research and policy analysis at the intersection of technology and international governance.
What Could We Expect from President Donald Trump, 2.0?
The former reality star’s first term, and recent statements, suggest what’s ahead should he reclaim the White House. We asked CIGI experts “What do you think could be the greatest implications of another Trump presidency?”
Michael Den Tandt , Burcu Kilic , Arif Lalani and Patrick Leblond look at possible impacts on trade, security, commerce and more.
Surveillance Capitalism
Feb 22 - 4:00 p.m. EST (UTC-5:00) - Waterloo, Canada
This Thursday join us in person or online for a discussion featuring speakers Shoshana Zuboff and Jim Balsillie on the urgent topic of “surveillance capitalism.” Balsillie School of International Affairs Director Ann Fitz-Gerald and CIGI President Paul Samson will moderate. Don’t miss it! Tickets are free.
More from the Legitimate Influence or Unlawful Manipulation? Project
As part of CIGI’s project Legitimate Influence or Unlawful Manipulation?, experts in internet governance and human rights have written a series of policy briefs to provide insight into the far-reaching impacts evolving technologies present to our freedom of thought, as well as ways to counter them.
Explore the full series here, and check out the introductory video and latest policy brief below.
New Technologies Challenge Freedom of Thought
In this video, Mai Mavinkurve P.Eng. and Maroussia Lévesque introduce the range of issues they and other experts are exploring in the series.
Digital Media Literacy as a Precondition for Engaged Digital Citizenship
Digital media tools have become essential to acting on and communicating about civic issues, and networked platforms have become the primary fora for political discussion and action. Their choice architectures make some actions easier, more obvious and more automatic than others, which can lead to a violation of our right not to have our thoughts and opinions manipulated.
But as Kara Brisson-Boivin, Ph.D. and Matthew Johnson argue, to say that these tools and technologies are opaque does not mean we can't engage critically with them. Even a very basic understanding of algorithms can make a significant difference to their impact. Being able to critically, effectively and responsibly access, use, understand and engage with media of all kinds is an essential part of civic engagement.
Research from the Digital Policy Hub
We invite you to explore the working papers emerging from the research of the Digital Policy Hub fellows and published on our website.
Follow the links on the Hub webpage and stay tuned for more!
Satellite Phone Networks Can Democratize Global Communication
In this op-ed first published by SpaceNews, Aaron Shull discusses the successful bypass by SpaceX of traditional infrastructure to send and receive text messages using Starlink’s direct-to-cell satellites, and the considerable implications of this development.
“It’s a monumental moment for communication technology and geopolitics alike. In effect, it means the satellite phone, once the exclusive domain of government officials, diplomats, journalists and fictional secret agents, may soon be much more widely available, worldwide.…As a new front of geopolitics opens right above our heads, it is time we all started paying attention.”
Digital Policy Hub: Call for Applications
In partnership with universities, governments and the private sector, CIGI’s Digital Policy Hub offers a highly collaborative and transdisciplinary space for undergraduate and graduate students and post-doctoral and visiting fellows to share and develop their research on the rapid evolution and governance of transformative technologies.
Calling researchers! Applications are open for the 2024–2025 academic year cohort; the deadline to apply is March 1.
Visit our website to find out more.
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