Responsible Innovation in Canada and Beyond: Understanding and Improving the Social Impacts of Techn

Responsible Innovation in Canada and Beyond www.ictc-ctic.ca 10 PART I INTRODUCTION AND CONTEXT INTRODUCTION In 2020, the world moved online to slow the spread of COVID-19, the European Union began to challenge the efficacy of other nations’ privacy legislation,1 the United States held anti-trust hearings in relation to big tech,2 and Canada developed a privacy-focused, national coronavirus contac. [...] What Are the Social Impacts of Technology, and Why Do They Need Improvement? In many ways we’re in the middle of this tech culture that very optimistically went and created some profound changes in the world, and then saw the unforeseen consequences from that change and is now reeling from it. [...] In this paper, the “social impacts of technology” refer to both of these things: the positive, usually intentional consequences of a new tool, and the potential negative or unanticipated consequences of the same tool. [...] Another example is the overrepresentation of the private sector in developing AI ethics frameworks (at the expense of others, like the broader public, civil society, and unions).37 The advisory committee discussed the importance of having a multiplicity of voices involved in establishing ethical frameworks as well as being involved in ethical technology development. [...] The tradeoffs between user privacy, equity of access, and effectiveness are a matter of current debate, all highlighting the complexity of ensuring that technology has positive social outcomes in times of great stress and need.56 Assessing Technologies: Tests, Certifications, and Standards Pre- and Post-Market There are many ways of assessing the social impact of a technology, prior to a product g.