Chris Tenove

Computational Social Science in Action: Vaccine & Climate Policy Narratives How do vaccine and climate policy debates unfold online—and how can social scientists study them rigorously at scale?

How do vaccine and climate debates unfold online, and how can social scientists study them at scale? Join Johanna Klapproth, Mark Shakespear, @lauraknelson.bsky.social, and @cjten.bsky.social to discuss research strategies and how they can inform real-world policy.
www.eventbrite.ca/e/computatio...

We’re thrilled that The Security of Self: A Human-Centric Approach to Cybersecurity is out, just in time for some holiday reading! The book’s contributors—including CSDI directors @cjten.bsky.social and @heiditworek.bsky.social—put people at the centre of understanding and advancing cybersecurity.

Alberta towns see AI data centres as 'second coming of oil' — but some worry at what cost Municipalities across Alberta are trying to figure out whether they can — or should — try to cash in on the influx of AI data centre developers looking to set up shop in the province. For some council...

Across Alberta, municipalities are weighing the pros and cons of hosting AI data centres. I used @nationalobserver.com's Civic Searchlight tool to figure out which towns are looking at data centres and dig into how they are thinking about the costs & benefits www.nationalobserver.com/2025/12/16/n...

Trump Administration Turning to Private Firms in Cyber Offensive President Donald Trump’s administration is preparing to turn to private businesses to help mount offensive cyberattacks against foreign adversaries, according to people familiar with the matter, poten...

In the "everyday more bad news" category:

Trump Administration Turning to Private Firms in Cyber Offensive 🧵
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Inside the AI-powered conspiracy machine selling ‘Truthwear’ to Canadians Multiple researchers told Canada’s National Observer that conspiracy companies like Mutinni are the inevitable result of artificial intelligence colliding with the attention economy. Social media algo...

Step 1. Use AI to generate glossy conspiracy videos about climate change and Health Canada at scale

Step 2. Monetize in a Shopify store selling merch

Read my latest investigation into why conspiracy-commerce businesses are the logical endpoint of attention economy.

The Resonant Computing Manifesto Technology should bring out the best in humanity, not the worst—a manifesto for resonant computing built on five principles that reject hyper-scale extraction for human flourishing.

Remember when the internet wasn't awful? We can go back to that.

Some friends and I have released the Resonant Computing Manifesto: a call to bring back such a time, to see if we can bring back a world where technology works for us, rather than against us.

resonantcomputing.org

Very happy to see this thoughtful approach to AI from @thetyee.ca

“Censorship” is a thought-terminating cliché. These people want you to believe that:

- labeling is censorship
- fact-checking is censorship
- transparency is censorship
- research is censorship

What they’re doing is redefining anything that might inconvenience a hard-right populist as censorship.

Congratulations to the Committee on this major report. Lots of good ideas in here to strengthen democracy in BC. Thanks to chairs @j-blatherwick-mla.bsky.social and @mla-wardstamer.bsky.social, and all the other committee members and staff.
I hope people check it out! lims.leg.bc.ca/pcms/file/19...

🌟 Today, we launch our latest policy brief 'How Universities Can Better Address Online Harassment'. The brief reviews international best practices for institutions to support researchers facing abuse.
democracy.ubc.ca/publications...

I’m proud of this work with Netheena, @heiditworek.bsky.social and our @ubcdemocracy.bsky.social team.

DOH. HUGE NEWS in the tariff wars!

(Point Roberts is a tiny sliver of America you can basically only reach from Canada.)

⚠️On September 10, the CSDI and the Electoral Integrity Project co-hosted the Technology and the Future of Democracy conference – bringing together over 80 attendees from academia, civil society, and policy practice.
🧵Read more below!
democracy.ubc.ca/news/technol...
democracy.ubc.ca/news/stress-...

AI misinformation poses a growing threat to public trust and safety.

Join us for a panel of cross-sectoral experts who will discuss policy, regulation and technical interventions: https://sciencepolicy.ca/event/ai-driven-misinformation-across-sectors-addressing-a-cross-societal-challenge/

Dis:connectivity and Globalisation Globalisation is one of the most contested concepts of our time. From its promise of borderless flows of people, goods, and finance in the 1990s, it embodies today almost the opposite: deglobalisation...

@heiditworek.bsky.social discusses the undulation of communication technologies and their ability to both attract and oppose the energy of globalization in @globaldiscnct.bsky.social's recent volume.

Find Heidi's chapter and the entire open-access collection: www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi...

70 leading Canadians, civil society groups ask Carney to protect Canada's 'digital sovereignty' | CBC News Dozens of experts, academics and organizations have released an open letter urging Prime Minister Mark Carney to swiftly "defend Canada's digital sovereignty" and protect the country from the whims of...

Proud to have signed this letter alongside a pretty amazing set of people & organizations.

These are complex issues for sure but it’s very helpful to have such a public, detailed framework agreed to by such a group.

www.cbc.ca/news/politic...

AI chatbots changing online threat landscape as Ottawa reviews legislation OTTAWA - Wrongful death lawsuits citing the activities of artificial intelligence chatbots are underway in the United States, as reports emerge of mental health issues and delusions induced by AI

Dr. Chris Tenove (@cjten.bsky.social @ubcdemocracy.bsky.social) said the Trump administration is a "major counterforce" in international efforts to regulate online harm.

via @cdnpress.bsky.social

⚠️@heiditworek.bsky.social and @cjten.bsky.social recently presented to the BC Special Committee on Democratic and Electoral Reform - using research from collaboration with @meo-cdmrn.bsky.social. @maxcameron.bsky.social, former CSDI Director, also testified.
🔗See more: www.leg.bc.ca/parliamentar...

Information Integrity about Climate Science: A Systematic Review Synthesis Report - Information Integrity about Climate Science: A Systematic Review

⚠️How can policymakers and civil society combat climate disinformation and misinformation in our information ecosystems?

🌍International Panel on the Information Environment report on new global trends: www.ipie.info/research/sr2...

🇨🇦CSDI report on local approaches: democracy.ubc.ca/publications...

New AI minister says Canada won’t ‘over-index’ on AI regulation OTTAWA — Canada's new minister of artificial intelligence said Tuesday he'll put less emphasis on AI regulation and more on finding ways to harness the technology's economic benefits.

🇨🇦As Canada forges new AI policy, read the CSDI's 'Harmful Hallucinations: Generative AI and Elections' report to understand how AI challenges our elections and information systems.

🗞️Analysis by @Anja Karadeglija: www.stalbertgazette.com/science-news...

🔗Report: democracy.ubc.ca/publications...

Reputational attacks against journalists Results from interviews and a global survey of journalists about their experiences with reputational attacks.

The leaked video is a strong example of a reputational attack targeting a journalist, something we at the GRC conducted extensive research on in our 'Not Just Words' interactive website and accompanying report — led by @cjten.bsky.social. bit.ly/3HmyFDA

Rubio is basically carrying the water for U.S. tech firms. These companies have spent decades attempting to avoid regulatory oversight. Having failed in those efforts, they are now leveraging the full power of the U.S. government to advance their interests.

This is a very important and valuable resource for journalists or researchers facing harassment. Thanks @rebekahtromble.bsky.social and team!
expertvoicestogether.org

How We’re Using AI The rapid development of AI is already changing how journalists operate. Reporters, editors, executives, and others across the news industry share their advice on how to engage—and where to draw the l...

AI is already changing how journalists operate. Reporters, editors, executives, and others across the news industry share their advice on how to engage—and where to draw the line. By Mike Ananny and Matt Pearce in collaboration with USC's AI for Media & Storytelling. www.cjr.org/feature-2/ho...

What Is News? As people are exposed to more information from more sources than ever before, how they define and feel about “news” has become less clear-cut. Pew Research Center.

And just like that, over a year of work from our team is out in the world! Our latest @pewresearch.org data essay, part of the Pew-Knight Initiative, explores how Americans decide what "news" means to them – and how it fits into their lives in the digital era.

www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2...

Conservative fundraising email suggests Liberals trying to 'tip the scales' in recounts | CBC News A Conservative Party fundraising email alleges the Liberals are trying to "tip the scales" in riding recounts, language political watchers say is concerning as some Canadians say they don't trust the ...

A new Conservative email claims Liberals are “tipping the scales.” CSDI’s Chris Tenove (@cjten.bsky.social) tells CBC this kind of rhetoric risks fueling distrust—even as most Canadians still trust the results.

🔗 Read: www.cbc.ca/news/politic...

any excuse to repost the greatest Tetris story ever, when a reporter went to cover early e-gaming championships and discovered that his wife was unknowingly *the world's greatest Tetris player* by a huge margin

archive.boston.com/news/globe/m...

Saw an advance preview of this amazing series. Check it out!

True lies on the Poilievre campaign trail I fell into conversation with a soft-spoken conservative influencer. She was telling me how bad crime has become. I nodded, somewhat skeptical, when two members of our group rushed in. “You guys!” the...

I spent the month of April trying to decode the appeal of Pierre Poilievre to millions of Canadians.
Followed his campaign from Nanaimo to Nova Scotia. Hit 10 rallies and 13 press conferences.
Here, to borrow one of his lines, is what I'm bringing home.
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/04/26/a...

Election interference: China switches tactics to promote Mark Carney, says B.C. target Douglas Todd: Sometimes China interferes by launching attacks on politicians. Other times it is complimentary, say former MP. Read more.

📰 In the @vancouversun.bsky.social, Chris Tenove explains how foreign actors use computational tricks—like fake WeChat networks—to shape Canadian political narratives.

🔗 vancouversun.com/opinion/colu...