Editor's note: The IAPP is policy neutral. We publish contributed opinion pieces to enable our members to hear a broad spectrum of views in our domains.
I've been reflecting a lot these days. Like many of you, I'm deeply immersed in privacy, data governance and artificial intelligence work. At both my firm and the IAPP, it feels like the work is coming in faster than ever. And yet, my focus is sometimes interrupted by world events. These distractions weigh on me, and perhaps on you as well.
As Canadians, our proximity to the U.S. means the shifts in political and cultural landscapes are impossible to ignore. Recent developments have prompted many of us to wonder how global events might ripple out, influencing not only our neighbors but also the world. It's a challenging time, filled with a rather large dose of uncertainty.
Take, for instance, the upcoming G7 meetings hosted by Canada in Alberta and the possibility that Russia might participate at the request of the U.S. These global forums can be opportunities for diplomacy and progress, but they also highlight the complexity of international relations.
Another story that caught my attention this week was about U.S. Vice President JD Vance's comments against regulating emerging technologies like AI and quantum computing. The IAPP has done an excellent job covering this issue, so I recommend you check it out. While these technologies hold immense promise, they also bring significant risks. Many of us in the privacy and governance community see regulation not as a barrier to progress, but as a safeguard — like, as IAPP President and CEO J. Trevor Hughes, CIPP, has reminded us, brakes on a car — allowing innovation to move forward, responsibly.
As global citizens, it's hard not to feel the weight of the issues popping up in the news, especially when they intersect with matters of law, ethics and accountability. What makes me hopeful is that history has shown us humanity can adapt, resist and overcome even the most trying periods.
Something else that gives me quite a bit of hope is the collective dedication of the people I work with. My work brings me into contact with some pretty inspiring people and organizations — many of them based in the U.S. They remind me every day that even in turbulent times, there is a strong global community committed to doing what's right.
Kris Klein, CIPP/C, CIPM, FIP, is the managing director for Canada for the IAPP.
This article originally appeared in the Canada Dashboard Digest, a free weekly IAPP newsletter. Subscriptions to this and other IAPP newsletters can be found here.