A group of experts, scholars, and entities have penned an open letter urging Prime Minister Mark Carney to safeguard Canada’s digital independence from potential influence by the Trump administration. The letter highlights Carney’s emphasis on bolstering Canada’s energy sector and large-scale projects, while overlooking the importance of protecting the nation’s digital economy.
The signatories stress the significance of Canada’s ability to regulate the digital technologies shaping its society, cautioning that failure to do so could compromise the country’s sovereignty. They call for measures to shield social media, cloud systems, AI technologies, digital transactions, and other data that could be exploited for technological dominance by the U.S. administration.
According to the letter, a substantial portion of Canada’s internet traffic currently flows through the U.S. or U.S.-based tech companies, allowing these entities to profit significantly from Canadian digital content creators without adequate taxation. The letter also points out the influence of foreign social media platforms like TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook on Canadian political discourse.
The signatories, including prominent figures like Margaret Atwood and organizations such as the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, advocate for actions to reestablish Canada’s digital sovereignty. They propose launching a public consultation, conducting an independent assessment of digital threats, and updating legislative frameworks like the Consumer Privacy Protection Act and the Online Harms Act.
The letter also calls for reconsideration of the decision to eliminate the digital services tax and urges the government to withdraw the Strong Borders Act, which grants expanded powers to security and intelligence agencies. The signatories emphasize the need for a balanced regulatory environment that safeguards privacy while fostering innovation and growth.
Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation Evan Solomon’s spokesperson acknowledged the letter but did not confirm the government’s adoption of the recommendations. The spokesperson emphasized the government’s commitment to implementing clear regulations that protect digital platforms and expressed gratitude to those contributing recommendations.