CIGI Announces New President

Last week, CIGI announced via news release that Paul Samson would be joining the organization as its fourth president, effective September 6. Jim Balsillie, CIGI’s founder and chair, said: “Paul brings 30 years of global experience and leadership to an impressive range of policy issues, including those presented by the digital transformation of the global economy. His experience will advance CIGI’s influential research, trusted analysis and thought leadership on emerging international issues and further expand the organization’s influence within the global policy community.” The appointment followed a nine-month search after the September 2021 announcement that Rohinton P. Medhora, who will continue as president until September 2, was stepping down from the position after 10 years of leadership.

You can read about Samson’s appointment here.

Last fall, China officially submitted its applications to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement, treaties it needs to join to engage in international rulemaking in the digital economy. But, as Alex He writes, the difficulties facing its entry are considerable. Indeed, the compromises required of Beijing in order for it to gain entry could help shape the future of not only the Chinese but also the global economy.

A growing number of countries are considering or implementing retail central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). Before Canada joins its peers in this endeavour, it can learn from their experiences. This report presents key takeaways from an April 2022 conference, hosted by CIGI and Bennett Jones LLP and attended by Canadian and international experts, that illuminate next steps for Canada and the legal and regulatory changes required to support a Canadian CBDC.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has monopolized headlines in traditional media and unleashed a torrent of instant analysis and professional commentary. Content about the war has also flooded social media platforms. In the new digital environment, propaganda gains power, but social media networks can also help to expose it. Dan Ciuriak explores how social media has been weaponized, not only during the hostilities but well before this particular conflict erupted, and to what effect.

Since 2018, Canadians — and Canada’s allies — have been waiting to learn what, exactly, the country would do about protecting its 5G (fifth-generation) cellular networks. In this op-ed cross-posted with the Toronto Star, Stephanie Carvin says that since the federal government’s decision in late May to bar China’s state-owned telecom giant from 5G networks, surprisingly little has been said about the matter. Banning Huawei and ZTE is the beginning, not the end, of an arduous task ahead.

Today, consuming media involves users being watched and tracked in ways the audience measurement industries of old could only have dreamed of. As debate is closing on Bill C-11, the Online Streaming Act, which will amend the Broadcasting Act and other legislation in Canada, Bram Abramson and Fenwick Mckelvey write in this op-ed cross-posted with TVO.org that there is one major amendment not on the table: viewers need better data and privacy rights.

Jun. 27 – 2:00 p.m. EDT (UTC–04:00): Join Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendicino and CIGI next Monday for a discussion of Canada’s changing threat landscape, and the reimagining of national security and intelligence practices to better safeguard future economic growth, innovation, sovereignty and Canada’s national interests.

The public is invited to this hour-long virtual event. Find out more and register here.