On September 21, 2019, Toronto Public Library (TPL) hosted a stage at The Word On The Street (WOTS), as part of WOTS Plus 2019. This was the second year in a row that TPL hosted a stage for WOTS, and we decided to focus the day on three discussions about the impact of technology on civil society.
This was the third of three discussions on stage that day.
-- Panel description --
Over the last couple of years, concerns about the impact of digital technologies on our lives have gone mainstream: scathing newspaper editorials, bestselling books and hearings in legislative bodies across the world are now common. As more and more citizens push back against the power of Big Tech, it’s time to re-imagine how technology could help create a better world for all.
So what can citizens do to advocate for responsible innovation? How do we build a digital economy that provides decent work for everyone and helps eliminate racial and gender discrimination? And can we imagine a world where big data and "smart" technology are used to increase civic engagement and enrich life in our communities?
Panelists:
Saadia Muzaffar is a tech entrepreneur, author and advocate of responsible innovation, decent work for everyone and prosperity of immigrant talent in STEM. She is the founder of TechGirls Canada and the co-founder of Tech Reset Canada.
Beth Coleman directs the City as Platform lab. She is a professor at the Institute of Communication, Culture, Information and Technology and the Faculty of Information at the University of Toronto. She is the author of Hello Avatar.
Takara Small is a technology columnist for CBC's Metro Morning and the host/producer of the Globe & Mail’s podcast I'll Go First.
