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“I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.” ~~ John G. Diefenbaker

Canada’s fight over digital sovereignty is just getting started (Cdn Centre for Policy Alternatives)


U.S. President Donald Trump and former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro are both infamous for their unfiltered and disinformation-laden use of social media. This routine spreading of disinformation serves a purpose for these men and their extremist political projects—as well as for the social media firms that help to spread it without any apparent concern or legal liability for the societal impacts and outcomes. The wide and deep spread of disinformation on the internet has been tied to accelerating mistrust in democratic institutions and social breakdown.

Some countries are trying to change this state of affairs by introducing measures to strengthen digital sovereignty—and they are coming under intense attack from the Trump administration. One recent article referred to President Trump as “Big Tech’s Personal Lobbyist,” for his efforts to undermine U.S. state and international efforts to regulate or tax the enormous wealth of digital economy giants.

Canada has two opportunities to push back against American bullying in this regard and regain some freedom to pursue its own digital sovereignty. One of those opportunities is the upcoming review of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). The other is a proposed digital trade agreement with the European Union ...

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