International Human Rights Day event

Thank you to everyone who joined us in Ottawa and online on December 10 for our International Human Rights Day event, Human Rights and New Digital Technologies.

The EU Delegation to Canada, together with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Canada and the Embassy of Austria in Canada , and in partnership with Dignity Network Canada, the Montreal Institute for Global Security (MIGS), and Mila - Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, convened an important conversation at the intersection of human rights and technology.

Across panels on digital transnational repression, Indigenous Peoples and AI, and online hate and digital equality, speakers underscored the shared EU-Canada commitment to a human-centred, rights-based digital future.

Key reflections from the day included:

Human rights must be upheld online as firmly as offline. Remarks by Geneviève Tuts touched on the EU's leadership, in making the digital space safer, including the Digital Services Act. She also stressed the importance of international cooperation to ensure digital spaces empower individuals

Digital transnational repression is rising, with AI-enabled deepfakes, doxing, and targeted online harassment increasingly used to intimidate diaspora communities. Panelists highlighted the need for stronger accountability mechanisms, and responsible tech-platform practices to protect those most at risk.

Indigenous worldviews offer essential guidance for AI governance. Discussions emphasized relational knowledge systems, the importance of free, prior, and informed consent, and the potential and limits of AI for supporting Indigenous language and cultural preservation.

Online hate and digital inequalities demand collective solutions. Panelists called for enhanced digital literacy, safer digital architecture, and the creation of inclusive online spaces that centre dignity and equity.

A warm thank you to all speakers, moderators, and participants for your insights and engagement: Verna McGregor, Margriet Vonno, Kyle Matthews, Sebastien Aubertin-Giguere, Laura Harth, Alexander Chipman Koty, Eugen Dolezal, Lynnsey Chartrand, Caroline Running Wolf, Sara Wolfe, Mick Elliott, Anoush Fraser Terjanian, Mitzie Hunter, Naoufel Testaouni, Rémy Bonny