With the right vision and leadership, Canada’s internet can remain an engine of innovation, free expression, and economic opportunity.
This article originally appeared in the Toronto Star on September 19, 2019
We’ve all been there: it might be an email, a text or a link on social media but right away something seems off about it. Should you click the link? Is it a virus? Fake news? A phishing attempt? Or just your uncle sending you another meme? The longer your finger hovers over the link the more anxious you feel.
It doesn’t have to be this way. With Canada’s federal election underway, we have a golden opportunity for candidates from across the political spectrum to commit to pro-internet principles that will help restore trust online.
Canadians love the internet. While the dark side of the web fills the headlines, there’s no doubt that we’re better off because of it. It has transformed our society in ways we could never have imagined — it connects us, entertains us, employs us — but, let’s face it: the internet is going through a bit of a rough patch right now.
Byron Holland (MBA, ICD.D) is President and CEO of the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA), a role he has held since 2008. A global leader in Internet governance, Byron has transformed CIRA into a multi-product, internationally recognized organization. He currently serves on the ICANN Board of Directors and is a founding member of A Technical Community Coalition for Multistakeholders (TCCM). Byron has held leadership roles with ICANN, CENTR, ARIN, and TorIX, and continues to represent CIRA in international and domestic policy forums.
The views expressed in this blog are Byron’s opinions on internet-related issues, and are not necessarily those of the organization.
