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Natalie Brender

@nataliebrender.bsky.social
2.7K followers 1K following 6.8K posts

Eternal migrant seeking opera, ruthless yet humane criticism, Jamesian ambivalence, vestigial Kantianisms. All the public health, politics, cultural, social & global policy interests.

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Natalie Brender @nataliebrender.bsky.social · 2h
CPHA's position statement adds new dimensions to policy discussion around Bill C-34 by addressing: - all-age populations & platforms beyond social media/AI - Big Tech strategy & influence - and policy tools going beyond regulation, requiring global coordination www.cpha.ca/online-harm
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Natalie Brender @nataliebrender.bsky.social · 7h
Trying to imagine the reaction to this in Canadian and other intelligence agencies. Not good.
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Claire Trottier 🇨🇦 @doctrott.bsky.social · 22h
Unbelievable
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Natalie Brender @nataliebrender.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Yep. British regulator rightly says "Parliament has charged us with the job of regulating an industry that has been unregulated and unaccountable for more than 20 years," and the platforms moan about the regulatory burden. They might just prevail too.
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Natalie Brender @nataliebrender.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Now online: @cpha-acsp.bsky.social's statement on a nuanced cross-population public health approach to online harms, using a commercial determinants of health lens to identify policy responses. It brings an important new angle to Canadian discussions of Bill C-34 & beyond. www.cpha.ca/online-harm
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Alondra Nelson @alondra.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
To think that there is nothing to be learned and innovated on from the safety practices of other industries is lunacy. AI tools are power. They are not magical or exempt from safety practices that work for other complex systems. Governing AI requires disenchantment; break the spell.
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Maria BOO!stillos @mariabustillos.com · 02/10/2026
Pope Leo XIV 'held firm,' in other words refused to countenance the most ridiculous dolts ever You can 'wine and dine' U.S. senators and UK MPs into saying whatever you want, but that really does not work on everybody
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Joel S. @joelhs.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
These American Jewish advocacy organizations are actually more threatened by Mamdani releasing a comprehensive anti-antisemitism plan than they would be by him being openly antisemitic, because it forces them to admit that one can be an anti-Zionist without being antisemitic.
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Tom McIntosh @proftomuofr.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
A gift from my former boss, the inimitable Shannon Dea. Donald Trump has proven to be a boon to the Peace by Chocolate people … every utterance gives them a new wrapper to print.
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Natalie Brender @nataliebrender.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Just because you/I don't understand AI doesn't mean that no one does. So many people buy into this 'poorly understood' line that lets commercially-motivated tech companies off the hook for harms & near-catastrophes. Kudos to @emilymbender.bsky.social & @timnitgebru.blacksky.app for this.
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Natalie Brender @nataliebrender.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Behold, Big Social Media putting up billboards in Ottawa trying to finesse the prospect of federal regulation via Bill C-34. (photo credit to my son 🚑)
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Avi Lewis @avilewis.ca · 28/09/2026
Rising residential school denialism and anti-Indigenous racism have created an environment where white supremacists feel emboldened to target and intimidate First Nations in their communities. It’s disgusting and completely unacceptable.
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Natalie Brender @nataliebrender.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
This is the most surprising geopolitical thing to happen to the eminently 'worthwhile Canadian initiative' policywonkery of @policyoptions.irpp.org (of which I'm very fond, and fully share its steep AI learning curve).
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Natalie Brender @nataliebrender.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Props to the Goodbot policy wonks for this important series of briefs on how Canada's broken lobbying rules enable Big Tech to circumvent public interest governance. Essential to reform if there's any hope of online safety and privacy regulation to succeed.
goodbot.ca
LOBBYING PART II: INCOGNITO MODE How Canada’s Lobbying Loopholes Hide Big Tech’s Policy Influence Machine — goodbot
The full report is available HERE Written by Renee Black, Edward Wu, Femi Gbolahan, Kaitlin Bustos, Ayla Khan and Mathushan Thialikanathan Edited by Courtney Doagoo Part II of our four-part ...
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Lauren Dobson-Hughes @ldobsonhughes.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
"Yes to sovereignty. But not at any cost. Sovereignty as a means of buying ourselves the ability to craft our own policies, and pursue our own values." progressdevelopment.substack.com/p/sovereignt...
progressdevelopment.substack.com
Sovereignty is the means not the end
What can we learn from a unique exercise that listens to Canadians talk about foreign policy?
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Lauren Dobson-Hughes @ldobsonhughes.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
I was involved in a foreign policy deliberative democracy exercise this spring, and the report was just released Basically, they take 400 Canadians, an exact demographic cross-section, who spend a weekend discussing foreign policy www.global-canada.org/foreign-poli...
global-canada.org
Foreign Policy by Canadians 2026 — Global Canada
Global Canada is a non-governmental organization committed to enhancing Canada's positive global impact.
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Natalie Brender @nataliebrender.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
🔥Today's moment of sweet sanity and public interest governance
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Natalie Brender @nataliebrender.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Well, now how does the Canadian military feel about F-35s?
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Corey Atad @coreyatad.com · 22/09/2026
“If you are staring at an example of social disorder or social inefficiency, and the left refuses to explain either why it has happened or how they will fix it, then the right gets to point at someone in the immediate area and say, ‘That’s who did it.’” crazy how much Mamdani speaks my language
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Natalie Brender @nataliebrender.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Cannot stress enough how much learning from Agnes Callard plus the tech bros should not be a thing.
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Jim Woodgett @jwoodgett.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
There’s a concerted campaign to undermine EDI in Canada. The evidence behind EDI policies reducing excellence are based on abysmal, flawed evidence. Look at who feels threatened by equity, diversity and inclusion. They’re the least diverse, least equitable and most exclusive people. Just no.
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Naomi Klein @naomiaklein.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
It's not flooding the zone, it's seizing a crisis in order to ram through a slew of rapid fire changes that are a gift to multinational corporations and are the opposite of what we ran on. What do you call that again?
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Natalie Brender @nataliebrender.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Kudos to UOttawa prof Jason Millar for this excellently put summary of the 'existential AI' warnings and their larger context: profjasonmillar.substack.com/p/we-have-fa...
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Natalie Brender @nataliebrender.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
This is a big deal!! Good for both of them.
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Ross O'Connor @oconnor.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
"We will continue to go with Canada." Trump tries very hard to struggle against reality but it always wins out in the end.
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Ben K. @benjaminkabak.com · 22/09/2026
DEI for a computer program. Amazing.
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Natalie Brender @nataliebrender.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Woe to the academic journal indexers and all US academics preparing grant proposals.
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Nomi Claire Lazar @nomiclairelazar.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Miss academic freedom (US) and / or job security, decent wages and pensions (UK)? @gspia-esapi.bsky.social in 🇨🇦’s beautiful capital is mega-hiring! We have two posts in security (one open rank) and one in democracy and technology (open rank). Open as to field. French an asset. DM if interested.
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Haus of Decline @hausofdecline.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
As far as I can tell, Effective Altruists are Utilitarians who are relieved that in the Trolley Problem, saving 5 people justifies their innate desire to kill the one guy
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Natalie Brender @nataliebrender.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
It's true that GoC announcement framing can get silly--but it's also true that these health technologies are ones we really don't want to be relying on the US to supply or lead on these days.
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Natalie Brender @nataliebrender.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
New theological comms genre just dropped 🔥
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Natalie Brender @nataliebrender.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
A very good analysis. 🔥
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Don’t Post About Crimes @katerosebee.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
There’s a number of reasons the Chinese population report more positive attitudes towards AI adoption, but among the most notable to me: they hold far greater confidence that their government would intervene in and capably manage any risks: www.cnn.com/2026/09/17/t...
cnn.com
Why is China less worried about an AI dystopia than the US? | CNN Business
Unlike in the United States, no one in China seems to be openly fretting over the prospect of humanity being destroyed by artificial intelligence soon.
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James Schmeling @jschmeling.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Yikes. Now multiply this by connected cars even if smaller and not as much individual impact.
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Natalie Brender @nataliebrender.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Ah, it appears that this deal might just preserve the status quo re Greenland and US military access.
theguardian.com
US and Denmark reach security deal after Trump’s threats to take over Greenland
The agreement would allow the US to expand its military presence, while Denmark and Greenland say it preserves their sovereignty and right to self-determination
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lastpositivist.bsky.social @lastpositivist.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
It's genuinely fascinating that the US president keeps announcing that he just flat out doesn't know what trade is, he legit doesn't appreciate the concept of exchange and instead views economic activity through the lens of a dragon attempting to maximise its gold hoard to sit upon.
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Kristian Kiehling @kristiankiehling.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Kudos to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who reminded the cowardly right- and left-wing russian collaborators in the European Parliament in Strasbourg that "Goethe understood that ideals must be fought for and that values do not defend themselves".
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sarah jeong @sarahjeong.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
a lot freaks me out about AI but 0% of my anxiety is about AGI. i think this is the part that freaks me out the most right now -- the many many indications that no one is at the wheel and no adults are present
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Natalie Brender @nataliebrender.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Very worthwhile read. There is strong, anguished opposition within Israeli institutions--but not enough to change the government's course.
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Natalie Brender @nataliebrender.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Wildly popular statement in Canada! Do it.
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irony_tower @ironytower.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
"Did you try turning it off and back on again?" is a very big moment in the New Testament
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Natalie Brender @nataliebrender.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Meteorology! [but not climate change] says the guy appearing to walk out of a bathroom.
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Natalie Brender @nataliebrender.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
New Aristotelianism just dropped: "crime as a meaningful act though which people grow". This book is already on my to-read pile after seeing @colsonwhitehead.com in Ottawa, and this framing only adds to the anticipation.
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The Canadian Shield Institute @canadianshieldinstitute.ca · 16/09/2026
Canada ranks #2 among advanced economies for foreign ownership(21% of the economy). The risk isn’t the total, it’s concentration in strategic sectors. Motor vehicles: 100% foreign ownership. Chemicals: 74%. IT services: 52%. Canada is chasing more FDI. Do we have a strategy?
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Natalie Brender @nataliebrender.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
With each episode framed by a relevant concept from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
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Natalie Brender @nataliebrender.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Ok music people, what's on the Ozempic Album?
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Natalie Brender @nataliebrender.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Absolute masterpiece, viewed from Canada.
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Lupita Nihongo @otsumamiboy.blacksky.app · 15/09/2026
Ed Sheeran is going to announce that in solidarity with the acts that have dropped from the Ed Sheeran tour in solidarity with Macklemore who was dropped for his solidarity with Palestine, Ed Sheeran is going to drop from the Ed Sheeran tour.
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Natalie Brender @nataliebrender.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
@katewagner.wehwalt.net Has anyone paged you yet about your fave incestuous opera twins? Do they count as fodder for fascist fascination?
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