Balsillie decries toxic, unchecked technology at big data committee

OTTAWA -- A Canadian high-tech pioneer says a "toxic" social media business model is a threat to democracy.

Committee members will also grill representatives from a host of internet giants -- Facebook, Google, Twitter, Microsoft, Amazon and Mozilla -- on what they're doing, or not doing, to prevent abuse. "By displacing the print and broadcast media in influencing public opinion, technology is becoming the new Fourth Estate. In our system of checks and balances, this makes technology co-equal with the executive, the legislative, and the judiciary," he said.

It will hear from experts on how best governments can prevent the use of social media to violate individuals' privacy, spread fake news, sow dissension and manipulate election outcomes.

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’Toxic cocktail’ brewing for U.S. asset managers, says hedge fund investor Kass’Toxic cocktail’ brewing for U.S. asset managers, says hedge fund investor Kass GlobeInvestor globeinvestor Right. 'Cause we need to give hedge fund investors more air time. Scrapitalism globeinvestor Thx Mr. Kass, in other news fire is hot and ice is cold.
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