News article – August 2026
Ford says Ontarians ‘misinformed’ about data centres as province releases AI playbook
The Ontario government released its so-called “data centre playbook” in an effort to provide a clear set of requirements to data companies looking to make the province their home. Premier Doug Ford justified the need for more data centres with concerns about digital sovereignty, saying, “We have two choices, we either do our own data centres and keep our own data sovereignty, or we let President Trump run us over like he has in other areas.” Evan Light of PolicyDreams! weighed in on some of the potential benefits and drawbacks.
Video interview – August 2026
Meta ordered to pay $567M to address harms to children’s mental health
A court in New Mexico has ordered social media giant Meta to pay $US567 million to address harms to young people caused by its platforms. University of Toronto associate professor Evan Light joins Global’s Nivrita Ganguly to talk about the impact of the ruling.
News article – June 2026
Canada’s move to rein in AI chatbots, spurred by school shooting, faces doubt over loopholes.
Canadian legislation to regulate AI chatbots, introduced after national outrage over a school shooting that left nine people dead, has raised doubts among academics and legal experts who warn that loopholes and its lengthy time frame may undermine the effort. Evan Light of PolicyDreams! states, “If this is the preview of a law, I do not have high hopes for something that will be useful in a practical sense.”
This bill follows the example set by governments around the world, who are pursuing age-checking requirements for social media. Analysts warn that children may bypass bans, risking migration to less regulated platforms.