CIGI Newsletter: May 7th, 2024
Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI)
CIGI offers expert research and policy analysis at the intersection of technology and international governance.
Breaking Barriers: The Link between Stronger IPRs and Trade in Services
Service firms are increasingly turning to intellectual property rights (IPRs) as a means of safeguarding their intellectual assets, especially as they try to expand into international markets where the protection of IPRs is relatively weak.
In this paper, Olena Ivus studies the relationship between trade in services and the strength of IPRs protection at the international level. Analyzing data for 94 countries over the period of 1990–2010 and considering patent rights, copyright and trademarks, Ivus puts forward new empirical evidence about the impact of global strengthening of IPRs protection on cross-border trade in services.
A Welcome Voice for Canada on the Future of AI
In its 2024 budget released last month, Canada pledged $2.4 billion toward artificial intelligence (AI), including investment in a new AI Safety Institute of Canada. By establishing this institute, Canada is joining a global effort to ensure safe, secure and trustworthy AI.
In this op-ed first published by Tech Policy Press, Duncan Cass-Beggs outlines some priorities for the institute’s work and several potential principles for its design. Above all, he urges that “for these investments to be worthwhile, Canada will need to empower its new institute with a clear mandate and an agile structure, and make a commensurate government commitment to turn research into policy action.â€
Will Generative AI Bring About a Textual Singularity?
With artificial intelligence (AI) tools' rapid improvement at writing text that sounds human, Robert Diab observes that many are wondering “how far off we might be from a textual singularity — a moment when all text online will be presumed to be fake. One source estimates that by 2026, some 90 percent of the Web’s content will be automated. Surely an overstatement, but by how much?â€
In this op-ed first published by Newsweek, Diab responds that “recent work on the nature of language models and cognition helps us to settle this debate in favour of the skeptics.†He argues that “the qualitative difference [AI tools] will never overcome is a fundamental staleness in thought....The best policy response to fears of the net being taken over by bots is to cultivate a reputation for insight, authenticity and truth.â€
Expanding Involvement
Exploring regional cybersecurity hubs: In March, CIGI expanded its national cybersecurity initiative, the Waterloo Security Dialogue, to Vancouver, British Columbia, for consultations with stakeholders from government, academia and industry. Participants discussed establishing regional cybersecurity hubs across the country, tailored to individual regions’ specific priorities, as platforms to raise awareness, share expertise and enhance collaboration in addressing cyber threats, and will be exploring use cases and scenarios in future Waterloo Security Dialogue discussions.
Mobilizing knowledge: CIGI has recently become a member of Research Impact Canada, a pan-Canadian network dedicated to maximizing the impact of research for the public good. This community of practice focuses on helping universities and other organizations across the country maximize the impact of research to benefit their communities.
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UN Cybercrime Convention: Authoritarian Push, or a Boost for Developing Countries?
There’s an urgent need for intergovernmental action to strengthen cybersecurity. Yet, as Kyle Hiebert outlines, a UN special committee tasked with delivering a proposal for a binding legal framework for dealing with cybercrime is having trouble reaching consensus. Negotiations have broken down over the convention’s scope, and lost in the noise are the interests and needs of developing countries.
Hiebert says that although the way forward is anything but clear “an amendment to the treaty’s draft text presented by Canada at the committee’s concluding session in February may offer an elegant solution to the dilemma of how to mitigate cybercrime while still considering human rights.†If UN negotiators can use that amendment “to produce a revised treaty text that achieves the broadest possible level of support, that would represent meaningful compromise and progress.â€
Watch “Clearing the Fog: The Grey Zones of Space Governanceâ€
In this new video, a complement to their paper of the same title, Jessica West and Jordan Miller provide insight into the complexities of space governance, including policy dilemmas and technological advancements. They explore the intricacies of regulating activities beyond Earth’s atmosphere and of navigating through “grey zones†in rules and conduct, offering a comprehensive look at the challenges and opportunities for the future of space governance.
Hiring: Director, Public Affairs
CIGI is seeking a Director, Public Affairs.
Reporting to the President of CIGI, the Director, Public Affairs is a member of the Senior Management Team and oversees the strategy and implementation of CIGI’s outreach and impact activities that promote and amplify CIGI’s research and strengthen its brand and reputation internationally as a leading think tank. The competition closes May 10.
Please visit our Careers page for more details and share with your networks.