The Current

Former RIM co-CEO warns of dire consequences if big data, tech are left unchecked

Former Research in Motion co-CEO Jim Balsillie has spoken out about the business practices of large tech companies and how the government is failing to regulate them.

Jim Balsillie shares concerns about how tech could disrupt the upcoming federal election

Former Research in Motion co-CEO Jim Balsillie testified before the International Grand Committee on Big Data, Privacy and Democracy in Ottawa. The committee also voted to subpeona Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and COO Sheryl Sandberg to appear as witnesses, but both declined to appear. (Lucas Jackson/Reuters)

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The former Research in Motion co-CEO says data is a profound power that is not being wielded properly — and the consequences of this could be very dangerous.

"Under the current regime [of a data-driven economy] we have no chance of election integrity this year in Canada," Jim Balsillie told The Current's Anna Maria Tremonti.

Balsillie, who testified before the International Grand Committee on Big Data, Privacy and Democracy in Ottawa last week, has been speaking out about the business practices of large tech companies and how the government is failing to regulate them.

He shared his concerns, and how he believes the upcoming election will be threatened, with Tremonti.

Click 'listen' near the top of the page to hear the full conversation.


Produced by Julie Crysler and Anna Maria Tremonti.

Corrections

  • An earlier version of this headline and story referred to Jim Balsillie as the co-founder of RIM. In fact, Balsillie was co-CEO.
    Jun 17, 2019 9:55 AM ET