From heath tracking apps to the ethics of artificial intelligence (AI), digital technology — and the policies that regulate it — touch every aspect of life.

During the second annual Digital Regulation in the Public Interest symposium, part of the ongoing Social Sciences Symposium Series, scholars from Brock and several other Canadian universities will present research exploring:

• educational technology in Canadian post-secondary spaces
• generative AI use in communications
• online accessibility standards
• digital surveillance and health care
• AI companions and sex work
• accountability for digital health apps
• digital tools for migrant support
• TikTok’s platform tools
• blockchain and the art market
• digital citizenship and techno-fascism
• the challenges and limitations of digital regulation
• data-driven automation and robotics
• data regulation and AI

Associate Professor of Political Science Blayne Haggart says that following on a successful first event, the second symposium will continue to build a community of researchers looking at a highly complex and rapidly evolving field.

“The digital has been put into every facet of society, and companies end up having a lot of control over our experiences online but also our experiences offline and what happens to our data,” says Haggart. “The symposium is a way to look at the public policy side of things, considering how to regulate technologies and what principles should guide decision-making — how do we get these technologies to do what we want them to do and not do what we don’t want them to do?”

Online sessions will wrap up shortly before 5 p.m., at which time everyone is welcome to attend a public reception in Plaza 600F to chat with panelists and meet other students, staff, faculty and community members who are interested in public policy related to technology.

The full program is available to preview on the symposium website. Everyone is welcome to attend, but advance registration is required to gain access to the online sessions.