C-10, Oligarchy and the Future

Sun, 23 May 2021 01:24:14 GMT

I just finished watching a re-run of Man of Steel. Before that, I was rereading David Brin's novel Earth and reading an opinion piece in today's Globe and Mail by Sue Gardner (once of CBC and Wikimedia) on Bill C-10.

I think Prof. Michael Geist has fair criticisms of C-10 as presently promoted by the Trudeau team, particularly Heritage minister Steven Guilbeault. I share those concerns. Sue Gardner pointed out other issues, issues that C-10 might still be refashioned to address better. Issues about the business model of the major internet giants, including Facebook, Twitter, Alphabet/Google, etc.. The model that requires pushing engagement over education...rather than both in tandem.

It also speaks to some concerns that Dr. Brin put forward in the course of writing Earth: oligarchy trying to hold onto the power it used to have by keeping humanity more divided than absolutely necessary. Those companies risk being more entrenched as an oligarchy itself or as part of an existing structure's newer components.

In case any of you are able to get around the paywall because you're subscribed or otherwise legally able to look at it directly:

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-the-crackdown-on-big-tech-targets-symptoms-rather-than-the-disease/

Also, my local public library provides ProQuest access to the article. Your own public libraries - wherever you are - may be able to provide similar access.

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On the DEWLine 2.0: Dwight Williams

C-10, Oligarchy and the Future