Episode 80 Politics, Central Control, Privacy Challenges and the Threat to the Information Ecosystem

Today, data privacy is under attack, posing a threat to democracy and each of our individual freedoms. What we’re witnessing today in the rise of illiberalism and a clear cardinal dereliction of our laws which guarantees the fundamental rights for those in democratic societies. The current U.S. administration has moved to deregulate big tech, and shift priorities away from stricter oversight. This will give artificial intelligence the fuel to proliferate this threat to privacy. As AI systems grew more powerful, their appetite for data intensified. Modern AI relies on vast datasets—often containing personal information—to train and refine its algorithms. Generative AI poses new threats. These systems can be misused to create fake profiles, manipulate images, or synthesize convincing but false content, amplifying risks of identity theft and misinformation. The new U.S. administration has fundamentally lowered the protections for US citizens, deregulated big tech in favor of less access restrictions to data, with an Executive Order that seeks to prioritize the global AI race – over robust ethical and privacy protections, which effectively reduces the guardrails for BigTech. We are pleased to welcome Abigail Dubiniecki, Privacy Lawyer, Data Strategist and Thought Leader at the intersection of data privacy, AI, politics and law. We will tackle the implications of what’s happening in the U.S. and the spillover effects to Canada and globally. What should we expect in the coming years should the current administration continue this path. What are countries who have more robust privacy regimes doing to combat these effects? What does this mean to Canadians especially in the midst of a new government? This episode was recorded prior to the Canadian federal election on April 28th, 2025.