Democracy & AI at Toronto Tech Week 2026

​This panel discussion will bring together civil society and academic perspectives to consider how advances in AI and declining transparency from social media platforms is shaping Canada's democratic culture.

​How can citizens be equipped to navigate online spaces and engage with accurate and trustworthy political information online? How can our government respond to this moment of rapid change with effective and common-sense methods to safeguard our country’s security?

​This event includes a 45-minute discussion with a networking reception to follow.

​The Samara Centre for Democracy is Canada’s leading non-partisan organization focused on strengthening and protecting Canadian democracy.

​Speakers List:

• ​​Sabreena Delhon, CEO of the Samara Centre for Democracy

• ​​Dr. Beatrice Wayne, Director of Research and Policy at the Samara Centre for Democracy 

• ​Philip Mai - Executive Director and Senior Researcher, Social Media Lab at Toronto Metropolitan University

• ​Ana Brandusescu - PhD Candidate at McGill University

​Toronto Tech Week is a citywide celebration of the people building what’s next. From May 25–29, 2026, founders, investors, and builders come together for hundreds of community-led events across Toronto, connecting tens of thousands of people around Canadian tech.

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