What Big Tech wants out of the trade war
Summary
Host Jamie Poisson and guest Vas Bednar analyze how US objections to Canada’s streaming and news regulations derailed recent trade talks. They argue these disputes reflect a broader struggle for digital sovereignty against Big Tech’s influence on Canadian policy. The discussion highlights the risks of relying on US infrastructure and calls for building independent, sovereign alternatives to protect national interests.
Topics discussed
Intro: Canada-US trade war and digital stakes
Streaming rules and the Online News Act as sticking points
Sovereignty vs. Big Tech: Why streaming is a red line
CETA 1.0 and the loss of regulatory power
How CETA hamstrings AI and data regulation
Big Tech's wishlist and US trade demands
US geopolitical ambition and digital landlord status
Risks of digital dependency and weaponization
Building Canadian alternatives and sovereign cloud
AI supercomputer plans and future sovereignty
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