Digital Policy Hub - April 2026 Conference - Panel 3: Reimagining Canada’s Online Harms Response

The panel provides a thoughtful and timely examination of Canada’s online harms response, with each presenter offering distinct yet complementary perspectives. Karmveer Pahda’s focus on platform design as a root cause of gendered harm is particularly compelling, as it shifts the conversation from content moderation to systemic design choices. His use of statistics and case studies, such as the Sweet Baby Inc. harassment campaign, grounds his argument in concrete examples. However, his recommendations, while sensible, lack detailed implementation strategies and may face practical challenges in enforcement. Tobi Alexander Martin’s proposal for interoperable social media is innovative and draws on historical analogies, but it raises questions about funding, governance, and public adoption. The discussion of the Online News Act and the information deficit is relevant, but the feasibility of a Canadian platform remains uncertain. The panelists engage in constructive dialogue, addressing critiques and exploring alternative solutions. The overall quality is high, with a strong emphasis on policy implications. However, the presentations are limited by time, and some arguments could benefit from more rigorous evidence. The title accurately reflects the content, and the panel successfully reimagines Canada’s approach by considering international models and design-centric solutions. The lack of detailed data on the effectiveness of proposed measures is a minor weakness, but the panel offers valuable insights for policymakers.

The title accurately reflects the panel's focus on reimagining Canada's approach to online harms, with presentations on platform design, social media infrastructure, and governance.

7/10

The panel features academic researchers presenting working papers with policy recommendations, grounded in current events and comparative analysis. However, the content is largely argumentative and lacks rigorous empirical evidence or peer review, and the discussion is limited by time constraints.

Markers derived by PSI from the transcript: the creator did not define chapters.

• 00:00Introduction by moderator Kaylee Wong
• 02:00Karmveer Pahda begins presentation on designed for harm affordances
• 10:00Pahda discusses Sweet Baby Inc. harassment campaign
• 15:00Pahda presents recommendations for safety by design
• 20:00Dialogue between Pahda and Alexander Martin on digital IDs and bans
• 25:00Alexander Martin begins presentation on Canadian social media platform
• 30:00Martin discusses Online News Act and information deficit
• 35:00Martin proposes interoperable social media and funding questions
• 40:00Dialogue on feasibility and governance of proposed platform
• 45:00Q&A session begins (transcript cuts off)

• Digital Policy Hub — Description of the hub and its research aims, mentioned by the moderator and in the video description.

• Digital Policy Hub — The hub's research aims align with the panel's focus on digital policy and governance.