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News April 24, 2024

CFE Joins in the Call for More Consultation on the Proposed Artificial Intelligence and Data Act

The Centre for Free Expression has joined with 23 other organizations and 34 individual experts to call on Innovation, Science and Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne to split the proposed Artificial Intelligence and Data Act (AIDA) from the omnibus Bill C-27 in which it is currently embedded so it can be returned to the parliamentary committee for proper consideration – something it has not had to date.

The regulation of Artificial Intelligence is of vital importance to all Canadians. Unfortunately, there have been grossly inadequate opportunities to deal with the proposed AIDA, given its inclusion in a bill that is also attempting also to update Canada’s Consumer Privacy Protection Act and our Personal Information and Data Protection Tribunal Act.

As the joint letter argues, AIDA is flawed and the consideration of it in the House of Commons’ Standing Committee on Industry and Technology (INDU) has been “hasty, confusing, and rushed.”

The potential impact of artificial intelligence on every aspect of our lives is enormous, and few matters need to be thought through more carefully, thoroughly, and urgently by governments. 

A copy of the joint letter is available here.