Meta whistleblower Frances Haugen to headline DemocracyXChange Summit

Canada’s DemocracyXChange (DXC) Summit returns to Toronto from April 11 to 13, 2024 for its fifth edition, featuring a keynote address from Frances Haugen. Haugen is a responsible tech advocate, and the Facebook (now Meta) whistleblower.

In 2021, after sharing tens of thousands of pages of internal documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission and The Wall Street Journal, Haugen’s disclosures about Facebook, which revealed that the company changed its algorithm to reward extremism, inspired widespread public debate on government social media regulation.

Since her revelations, Haugen has been instrumental in sounding the alarm on rising online threats to democracy, and a leading advocate for policies that make tech companies more accountable and transparent. In her new memoir, The Power of One, Haugen warns that a lack of transparency in big tech continues to cause harm.

“We are all living in a dangerous information environment where platforms misused by bad actors power the indiscriminate spread of misinformation and disinformation,” says OCAD U President and Vice-Chancellor, Ana Serrano.

“We can’t sustain a healthy democracy in this situation. DXC24 is a necessary gathering that brings together communities of artists, journalists, civil servants, politicans, not-for-profit and industry leaders, students and more who are invested in creating a shared evidence-based reality that is the foundation for a more just and equitable future for all.”

WHY THIS SUMMIT MATTERS

DXC connects, celebrates and equips people who are taking action to strengthen democracy and civil society. The Summit is open to all members of the public, and brings together students, practitioners and leaders from the public, private and not-for-profit sectors.

Co-presented by OCAD University, The Dais at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) and Open Democracy Project, DXC24 will cover topics such as trust and mistrust in institutions, social and economic inequality, the role of artists and designers in strengthening democracy, and the integrity of information. There will be a special focus on the role of democracies in confronting the existential threat of climate change.

“Conflict, emerging technologies and the rise of populism have created opportunities to weaken democratic institutions in Canada and around the world,” says Karim Bardeesy, Executive Director of The Dais. “DXC24 will bring together people with the courage and conviction to lead through the turbulence and mobilize positive action.”

EMERGING AS A VIBRANT HUB

OCAD U’s participation in DXC24 is aligned with its priorities to drive impact as an art and design university and emerge as a vibrant hub, outlined in the University’s Academic and Strategic Plan.

EARLY BIRD TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE

Join us at DXC24 from April 11 to 13, 2024, to take action on today’s most urgent civic issues.

Organizers are committed to making DXC24 accessible to everyone with a fair and equitable ticket pricing structure. Free and discounted tickets are available to participants through bursary contributions made by ticket-buyers, sponsors and community supporters whose generosity help to offset the high costs of hosting in-person events.

Early bird tickets are now on sale at democracyxchange.org.

More speakers and event details will be added in the coming weeks. Sign up to receive #DXC24 community news and updates.