Dr. Priya Kumar leads session in digital threats graduate seminar

On January 17th, 2020, Dr. Priya Kumar of the Centre for International Digital Policy at Global Affairs Canada led a session in Dr. Tony Porter, Dr. Netina Tan, and Dr. Sarah Bannerman’s Digital Threats graduate seminar. 

The seminar is a new capstone course that has been co-developed and will be co-taught by the Department of Political Science and the Digital Inclusion Lab, Global Affairs Canada. Sessions will examine online threats as well as public, private-sector, and technical governance responses to these threats. The seminar will involve a mix of seminar discussion, commentary by instructors in their areas of specialized expertise, group and individual research, and the formulation and sharing of research findings. 

The Digital Inclusion Lab is responsible for providing policy-relevant insights on how best to address online harms. In her guest lecture, Dr. Kumar presented a comprehensive overview of the Centre for International Digital Policy’s current priorities and projects, discussing questions such as how Canada can mitigate the risks of extremist and dangerous content, best collaborate internationally, and promote a rules-based international order. 

Dr. Kumar summarized key findings from new empirical research looking at how vulnerable populations, particularly women of influence in India, confront violence in online contexts. Her session explored Global Affairs Canada's role and proactive approach to developing policy responses to address online harms. 

Additionally, Dr. Kumar provided an overview of the broader and more normative issues that emerge from the intersection of online disinformation and ethics and human rights. These issues raise key questions about the implications of the prevailing digital information ecosystem for public trust and Canadian democracy.

 

January 27th, 2020 

Written by Cassidy Bereskin

Research Assistant, DDRH

Third Year Undergraduate, Political Science