Whose speech will Elon Musk’s Twitter be protecting, exactly? | Globe and Mail
April 27, 2022 | Taylor Owen and Supriya Dwivedi of the Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy write that Elon Musk's recent purchase of Twitter might strengthen the democratic governance that social media companies have fought against.
New podcast brings leading research on kids and tech to the mainstream
It’s one of the most pressing questions for researchers and families today: How are children affected by digital technology? Parents, caregivers, experts and policymakers are struggling to understand what’s best for kids online in an effort to keep up with the rapid pace and scale of technology. Screen Time is a new podcast where we search for answers to the biggest questions out there on kids and technology.
How to protect children from Big Tech's harms | The National Post
November 7, 2021 | Co-written by Max Bell School Professor Taylor Owen with Sonja Solomun, their article in the National Post looks at how the recently leaked Facebook Papers have spurred public concern and further debate on how policy should endeavor make these platforms more transparent and accountable.
Read the article.
Taylor Owen on What the Latest Facebook Revelations Mean for Canada’s Online Harms Legislative Plans | The Law Bytes Podcast
October 18, 2021 | Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen's damning revelations about the harms caused by Facebook and its suite of other social media platforms have spurred American policymakers to action. Listen to Max Bell School professor Taylor Owen's thoughts on the implications of the latest Facebook revelations on Canada's policy efforts to fight online harms.
We have the regulatory tools we need to fix Facebook | Globe and Mail
October 14, 2021 | In this opinion piece, Max Bell School professor Taylor Owen, former Supreme Court chief justice Beverley McLachlin, and chair of the Canadian Citizens' Assembly on Democratic Expression, Peter MacLeod argue that the latest Facebook controversy surrounding the testimony by Facebook whistle-blower Frances Haugen has the potential to change the debate a
How to fix Facebook | Globe and Mail
October 6, 2021 | In this episode of the Globe and Mail'sThe Decibel podcast, Max Bell School professor Taylor Owen speaks about harmful effects of Facebook's addictive nature and what we can do about it.
Listen to the podcast
In the digital age, who has a right to be anonymous and whose information has a right to be secure? | The Globe and Mail
August 13, 2021 | "Anonymity is seen by many as an inherent right in the digital age. But is this right absolute?". In this op-ed in the Globe and Mail, Max Bell School Professor Taylor Owen takes a critical look at the shift in the discourse surrounding online privacy. To learn more about the digital tools currently being used to circumvent anonymity and the far-reaching socio-political influences of encryption technology, read on.
Canada shouldn’t turn away from the difficult task of regulating online speech | The Globe and Mail
June 25, 2021 | How can policy strike the right balance between the protection of free speech and mitigating the impact of online hate? Professor Taylor Owen provides insight into this nuanced issue, proposing ways to hold online platforms accountable for harmful content in a manner which prioritizes democratic freedoms. Also, take a look at Professor Owen's Twitter thread to learn more.
Saving Journalism from Big Tech | Project Syndicate
March 5, 2021 | Google and Facebook have dominated digital advertising in search and social networking, creating a business model that is not based on the distribution of reliable information.
To govern Big Tech, listen to those most harmed by it | National Post
March 19, 2021 | Taylor Owen's latest piece for the National Post delves into algorithmic bias and the disproportionate harms Big Tech inflicts on people of colour. One piece of the solution? "Amplify the diverse voices of those with most knowledge of technology’s injustices."
Read the article.
Is Big Tech ungovernable? | Globe and Mail
February 26, 2021 | It is increasingly clear that the many benefits of digital platforms such as Facebook, Amazon and Google come with significant economic, social and political costs.
New report on protecting democratic expression online | Public Policy Forum
Supported by the Max Bell School's Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy, the Canadian Commission on Democratic Expression has released a new report detailing six recommendations to enable citizens, governments and platforms to deal with online hate speech in Canada.
Trump’s social-media ban clouds a bigger crisis: the power and systemic failure of Big Tech | The Globe and Mail
January 14, 2021 | In his opinion piece in The Globe and Mail, Max Bell School professor Taylor Owen discusses the effects of the recent social-media ban imposed on Donald Trump. Take a look at the article to understand how Trump's de-platforming scratches the surface of the deeper issues plaguing the current online ecosystem.
The vaccine will only work if enough people take it | Globe and Mail
January 5, 2020 | While the COVID-19 vaccine offers us an eventual way past the pandemic, many Canadians are unsure about taking or unwilling to take a vaccine. In this Globe and Mail article, Max Bell School Professor Taylor Owen and other researchers at the Media Ecosystem Observatory unpack the cause and solutions to vaccine hesitancy in Canada.
Understanding vaccine hesitancy in Canada: attitudes, beliefs, and the information ecosystem
December 2020 | This new report by the Media Ecosystem Observatory looks into vaccine hesitancy in Canada in the lead-up to the development of a vaccine. Key findings included that 65% of Canadians intend to take a vaccine, and that the best opportunity to reach those who are unsure is to address important concerns around the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine.
