TfD Weekly
The Privacy Commissioner is investigating Cineplex after our complaint. This week: campaign update, AI playbook progress, and how to join us.
Welcome to the second edition of the TfD Weekly.
This newsletter will keep you in the loop on what we're working on, what we've won, and how you can get involved.
Expect updates after our Tuesday meetings at Civic Tech Toronto. They'll be short, scannable, and with links to dig deeper if you want.
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Volunteer Meeting Tomorrow
Our monthly volunteer meeting is tomorrow, Thursday February 12th. These meetings happen on the second Thursday of each month and are a great way to get more involved with TfD's ongoing campaigns and projects. This meeting is open to all who are interested, sign-up at the link below.
👉 RSVP on Luma, 6:00 pm ET, online
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Update: Union Bus Station Digital Billboards Campaign
We would like to thank everyone involved in helping us campaign against the Union Bus Station Digital Ad Billboards from Cineplex Digital Media (CDM). Our letter was a cornerstone in our efforts with 5 organizations and 25 concerned individuals signing on. The letter highlighted our demands for a transparent data lifecycle, clear privacy policy, and adequate consent for passers by. We were also contacted by media around Toronto for interviews which means that this issue resonates with people and can occupy meaningful space in our public discourse.
As of today, CDM has not answered our queries, so we decided to file a complaint to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC) on February 2nd. The OPC notified us on February 9th that they are investigating Cineplex Digital Media for the issues we have highlighted and we hope to hear back from them soon.
We hope that this effort is only the beginning for a push for stronger privacy regulation. But regulation is not enough: We need to build a culture of privacy, where our tech treats us like we treat one another.
If this is an issue that resonates with you, please fill out the form to be a part of our organizing committee.
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AI Playbook Progress
This week we reviewed the People's Consultation on AI, a civil society initiative responding to the federal government's AI strategy consultation. The consultation provides guides and templates for individuals and organisations to submit their views on AI policy centred around human rights and the public interest. TfD is among the endorsing organisations.
We discussed questions about how we would execute our AI playbook idea in relation to this consultation. A lot of topics were covered; we will share our discussion in a more comprehensive document at a later date. If you have any specific responses to the questions discussed, please note them down to share in the breakout session next week.
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Next Meeting: Tuesday, February 17
We meet weekly at Civic Tech Toronto. Join us at 7pm for the main gathering, then find us in the breakout sessions from 8pm onwards. In person or remote, all welcome.
Technologists for Democracy, Canadians using technology towards better democracy for all