Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI)

We are only a week away from the next session of Digital Rules, Human Values. Episode two will bring the discussion from principles to practice by looking at what it takes to build human centred data markets. In episode one we saw why purpose bound data use and user agency matter. Episode two shows how this works in the real world through fairsfair.io, an EU recognised data intermediary applying these ideas at scale. fairsfair.io - EU Recognised Data Intermediary enables clear, trusted data flows without exposing personal information. Our speakers: • Paul Twomey, Co Chair of GIDE and former CEO of ICANN • Christopher Wilson, Executive Director of MyData Global • Ferdinand Burgersdijk, Founder of fairsfair.io Join us on December 4 at 1 PM UTC. Register now: https://lnkd.in/gVHu6erc MyData Global, Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), Global Solutions Initiative #DigitalGovernance #DataPrivacy #HumanRights

“In this new age, networks will evolve into intelligent and adaptive systems to become the nervous system of civilization.” Networks are not just faster pipes anymore. CIGI senior fellow Sarvashreshth Yash Kalash argues that networks will evolve into cognitive infrastructures, sensing, learning, adapting and embedding across city systems, finance and even biology; effectively becoming the nervous system of civilization. This shift makes network design and governance into core policy for monetary sovereignty, privacy, spectrum and global standards. If networks will soon constitute the substrate of social and economic life, how do we ensure they are built for inclusion, trust and shared sovereignty rather than concentration of power? Read on: https://lnkd.in/eff9MqVf 

💡 Digital money is forcing a rethink of who controls money and payments. CIGI senior fellow Patricia Meredith reframes Benjamin Franklin’s four monetary questions for the 21st century, warning that commercial banks (long the “owners, gatekeepers and custodians” of payment systems) will be disintermediated as digital innovation accelerates. The United States is pushing stablecoin adoption to preserve dollar dominance while China has already launched their own CBDC and built cross-border exchange frameworks; emerging economies are leapfrogging into digital infrastructure. To compete in the digital age, countries including Canada must build real-time, information-rich, cross-border, cross-currency P2P exchanges and become active participants in payment systems, and banks will have to transform their business models before it’s too late. Read the latest CIGI paper: https://lnkd.in/eprkxA_j 

🌐 Digital Rules, Human Values – Putting Human-Centred Digital Governance into Practice How can we build a digital future grounded in human values? Data intermediaries may hold a key part of the answer. Join us on 4 December 2025 for Episode 2 of the Digital Rules, Human Values global online seminar series. While Episode 1 explored the GIDE Principles and citizen empowerment in data use, Episode 2 focuses on practical implementation. This session will explore: 🔹 FairIsFair.io, an EU-registered data intermediary, and its approach to clear, purpose-specific data flows 🔹 How digital citizens can exercise control over their personal data 🔹 Lessons for transparency, accountability, and safer digital markets Featured Speakers 🗣️ : 🔹 Christopher Wilson, Executive Director, MyData Global 🔹 Ferdinand Burgersdijk, Founder, FairIsFair.io 🔹 Paul Twomey, Co-Chair, GIDE, former CEO of ICANN Why it matters: FairIsFair.io’s model already demonstrates real-world impact, including in mobility, helping citizens manage their data while supporting responsible, human-centred digital markets. The initiative was recognized with the MyData Award 2024–2025. Organizers: The Global Initiative for Digital Empowerment, MyData Global, Global Solutions Initiative (GSI), Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) Further resources: 🎥 IDEA Framework Presentation: https://lnkd.in/gZmrmZHG 📔 Policy brief on the model discussed in Episode One: https://lnkd.in/g2KXAQP7        📅 Date: 4 December 2025 | 💻 Online | 1 PM UTC ⌛ Duration: 60–75 minutes, including presentation, discussion, and live Q&A 👉 Register here: https://lnkd.in/gVHu6erc Let’s explore how digital governance can truly work for people—together. Agnes Eschment Christian Kastrop Vidisha Mishra Ole Spies Fernanda Ortega Stefanie Lassak Dennis J. Snower #DigitalGovernance #DataPrivacy #HumanRights #GlobalSolutions

Intellectual property is no longer just an economic asset, but a national security imperative. David Durand and Kyle Briggs argue that sound management of intellectual assets and intellectual property (IA/IP) is essential to Canada’s economic and national security. Their latest paper for CIGI highlights vulnerabilities in Canada’s fragmented IP regime and urges five priority reforms: • Establish an OSINT agency to identify strategic innovation priorities.  • Take targeted steps to secure outputs of Canadian research.  • Reform foreign investment controls and subsidize strategic technology acquisitions.  • Invest in sovereign cloud compute and storage, including quantum.  • Harmonize federal legal frameworks, notably trade secret law and post-secondary IP governance. Durand and Briggs will be speaking on the role of IP in the defence sector further at FORPIQ 2025 today. Read their paper ahead of the discussion: https://lnkd.in/e2Xz3TAB 

That’s a wrap! Thank you for attending Breaking Point: The New Big Shifts Putting Canada at Risk, a live conversation with authors Darrell Bricker and John Ibbitson, moderated by CIGI senior fellow Vasiliki (Vass) B. (The Canadian SHIELD Institute). These important discussions are the foundation upon which Canada can build its new systems to address the internal and external forces that grow and loom greater every day. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on future events: cigionline.org/subscribe/ #CIGIspeakers

This week from the CIGI newsletter: ·     Intellectual Property Is Economic and National Security ·     Xiangshan Forum Signals China’s Growing Soft Power ·     The Latest from the Digital Policy Hub And more:

“AI promises to reshape not only how we work but also the very purpose of work itself.” CIGI senior fellow Daniel Araya, PhD explores in his latest op-ed how AI-enabled technologies are already transforming social contracts, normalizing self-monitoring, elevating human capital and challenging human agency. As automation focuses not just on tasks but on purpose, he identifies the need for new value frameworks, systemic education and adaptable institutions. Our workplaces of the future could already be changing the base nature of our societies. What can we do to keep up? Read on: https://lnkd.in/dCNvSdqQ

How can we ensure our digital world is built on human values? Data intermediaries might be a key part of the answer. Join us on December 4 for the next session of the "Digital Rules, Human Values" global online seminar series. In episode one, we explored how GIDE principles can give digital citizens a stronger role in shaping how their data is used. Episode two builds on that foundation by looking at what this means in practice. We'll take a deep dive into fairsfair.io, an EU-registered data-intermediation service, to see how these models function. The session will feature an expert panel including: Paul Twomey, Co-Chair of GIDE and former CEO of ICANN Christopher Wilson, Executive Director of MyData Global Ferdinand Burgersdijk, Founder of FairIsFair.io fairsfair.io - EU Recognised Data Intermediary is an data intermediation service that helps digital citizens stay in control of what they share by making sure data is only used for a specific, agreed-upon purpose. Its approach supports clear, transparent data flows without exposing personal information. Its model is already being applied in mobility and other sectors, offering real-world lessons for creating safer, more accountable digital markets. FairIsFair.io was a MyData Award 2024–2025 awardee. This series, organised by the Global Initiative for Digital Empowerment (GIDE), MyData Global, the Global Solutions Initiative (GSI), and the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), aims to foster human-centred digital governance. We bring together global experts, practitioners, and policymakers to discuss practical solutions for safer digital services and greater user agency. This is a participatory global forum for a constructive policy dialogue. Learn more about the IDEA Framework: IDEA framework presentation: https://lnkd.in/gZmrmZHG Policy brief on the model discussed in Episode One: https://lnkd.in/g2KXAQP7 Register now to be part of the conversation: https://lnkd.in/gVHu6erc #DigitalGovernance #DataPrivacy #HumanRights

Tomorrow! Join CIGI for a live conversation that could shape Canada’s next decade and beyond. Bestselling authors Darrell Bricker and John Ibbitson will lay bare the demographic, political, and economic pressures fracturing this country, and what leaders at every level must do now. With Vasiliki (Vass) B. moderating, this one-hour forum sits at the intersection of interest for policy makers, public-service leaders, community activists, youth leaders, business strategists, and academics. Whether you influence policy, represent civic organizations, work in the private sector, or simply care about Canada’s future, you don't want to miss this. There’s still time to register. Secure your spot. 📅 Tuesday, Nov 25 • 12:00 PM EST  🎟 Free • Public Event • In-person and Online  https://lnkd.in/eYWsxNBM