Canada

ACT represents startups and small tech companies across or working in Canada, providing insight and advocacy to shape a policy environment that reflects how technology is built and used in practice. ACT works with our members across or working in Canada to understand the realities of operating a startup or small tech company and advocating for change in Africa.

We support a vibrant and growing community of founders, innovators, and funders dedicated to supporting each other and building a stronger small technology community.

Privacy and Online Security

Protecting children from privacy violations and harmful content online is the goal, but approaches that normalise identity collection or weaken end-to-end encryption increase surveillance and breach exposure. Startups and small tech companies handle millions of terabytes of data per day, putting them on the front lines of protecting and enabling responsible use of data. Robust security provisions, data protection, and privacy are in the interest of consumers and small tech companies alike. When regulatory or legislative proposals undermine security and trust, consumers and small businesses ultimately pay the price.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a key element of innovation and competitiveness in the app economy. While many small developers have used AI and machine learning for years to look for bugs and to manipulate data, today the implementation models of AI are changing almost daily. Startups and small tech companies are at the forefront of this new AI revolution. As the regulatory landscape evolves, it is crucial to strike a balance between fostering innovation and protecting consumers and businesses from demonstrated harms. Policies must be crafted in a way that supports the diverse needs of the app economy, particularly the startups and small tech companies that rely on AI to compete and thrive in a dynamic market.

Connected Health

Technology has the power to improve patient engagement and health outcomes, but antiquated rules hold back innovation and adoption. From coverage and payment to interoperability and information blocking to privacy and security the stakes are high. In order to ensure that patients, provides, and the healthcare ecosystem as a whole can make beneficial use of digital health and AI tools rules must be updated to encourage innovation and adoption while addressing identifiable risks.

Policy priorities

Current policy focus in Canada

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