Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy

What Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy does

The Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy (CMTD) is an interdisciplinary academic research centre established in 2020 within McGill University's Max Bell School of Public Policy in Montreal, Quebec. It conducts empirical research, policy analysis, and public advocacy on the social, political, and regulatory implications of digital technologies, with a particular focus on AI governance, online safety, platform accountability, media sustainability, children's technology policy, climate disinformation, and surveillance. The Centre's core methodology combines comparative policy analysis, original public opinion polling, and technical audits of digital products, executed most prominently through the Media Ecosystem Observatory (MEO), which in October 2025 merged into the Centre and brings large-scale social media data analysis covering nearly 9 million posts and a national survey of 1,518 Canadians.

CMTD's outputs are research products rather than commercial technology: policy briefs and reports, three ongoing podcast series (Machines Like Us, Left To Their Own Devices, Screen Time: Battle for Reality), event programming (annual Beaverbrook Lecture, Digital Policy Rounds, Platform Governance Research Network conferences, Gen(Z)AI Youth Assemblies), a Youth Fellows programme, and the Canadian Commission on Democratic Expression. The 'Left To Their Own Devices' podcast received a 2026 Peabody Award nomination. The Centre does not build proprietary technology platforms; its analytical work depends on data science and audit methodologies applied to third-party platforms, with distribution via its website and major podcast networks.

The organization operates as a non-profit academic unit embedded in McGill, with no disclosed commercial pricing because all outputs are distributed free of charge. Funding flows from McGill institutional support, foundation grants (notably the Beaverbrook Foundation for the annual Lecture series and the MacArthur Foundation for the 2023 Platform Governance Research Network Conference), and project partnerships. Its primary audiences are Canadian federal and provincial policymakers and regulators, journalists and media organizations, civil society and advocacy groups, academic researchers, and young Canadians engaged through fellowships, with secondary reach to the general public via earned media and podcasts.

Name

Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy

Legal name

Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy

Website

https://mediatechdemocracy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy (CMTD) is a non-profit academic research centre at McGill University that conducts empirical and policy research on AI governance, online safety, platform accountability, and media sustainability, delivering reports, podcasts, events, and policy submissions free of charge to Canadian policymakers, journalists, civil society, academics, and youth.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (541910), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)

akta.pro primary industry

EdTech & Digital Learning Policy Research (EDADADAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Social & Digital Insights (Social Listening, Online Community Research) (MPAAALAK), Social Sciences Scholarly Publishing (EDAGAFAD), Education, Research & Academic Congresses (THAHAJAD), Government & Public Sector Conferences (MPAGAGAH)

Keywords

• Digital policy research
• Platform governance research
• Media democracy studies
• AI governance research
• Technology policy analysis

Headquarters

HQ city

Montréal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Institutional and Foundation Funding: The Centre operates as part of McGill University and receives funding from foundations and institutional partners. The website references funders including the Beaverbrook Foundation and MacArthur Foundation support for specific initiatives like the Platform Governance Research Network conference.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Centre is an interdisciplinary academic research centre at McGill University that conducts empirical and policy research on the social, political, and democratic implications of digital technologies and the information ecosystem. Its work comprises published reports and policy briefs, comparative policy analyses, social media and digital product audits (via the Media Ecosystem Observatory), original public opinion surveys, podcasts, fellowship and youth engagement programs, and convenings such as Digital Policy Rounds and the Platform Governance Research Network conference, all disseminated free of charge.

Product overview

The Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy (CMTD) at McGill University is an interdisciplinary research center focused on policy research and advocacy rather than a commercial product company. Its offerings include multiple podcast series (Machines Like Us, Left To Their Own Devices, Screen Time: Battle for Reality), research programs (Gen(Z)AI, Media Ecosystem Observatory), fellowship opportunities (Youth Fellows Program), policy commissions (Canadian Commission on Democratic Expression), and event series (Digital Policy Rounds, Platform Governance Research Network). These research outputs are freely disseminated to inform public debates about media, technology, and democracy rather than being commercial products or services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Machines Like Us Podcast A technology podcast exploring how artificial intelligence is transforming society through conversations with entrepreneurs, lawmakers, and scholars; freely distributed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
• Left To Their Own Devices Podcast A 10-part investigative podcast exploring the profound impact of social media and technology on youth, examining how algorithms fuel addictive use and push children toward harmful content; nominated for a Peabody Award in 2026.
• Screen Time: Battle for Reality Podcast A podcast series examining online conspiracy theories, misinformation, and polarization in Canada, investigating how the digital ecosystem is reshaping societal realities.
• Gen(Z)AI Youth Assembly

Quantifiable outcome

• Taylor Owen's AI Task Force memo on governance, safety and trust submitted to Canada's National AI Task Force
• +3 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and secondary.

• Media Ecosystem Observatory (MEO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025The Centre announced its merger with the Media Ecosystem Observatory in October 2025. Anna Jahn joined as Executive Director of the newly merged entity. MEO conducts large-scale empirical research analyzing social media data and public opinion on media and technology issues in Canada.
• Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIGI co-hosted the 'Platforms for Harm?' event with the Centre in 2020, bringing together policymakers and experts to discuss platform governance and the balance between free speech and managing harmful content online.
• Friends of Canadian BroadcastingmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosted the 'Platforms for Harm?' event with CIGI and the Centre in 2020, bringing together civil society perspectives on platform accountability.
• Data & SocietymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerData & Society partnered with the Centre to host the Platform Governance Research Network Conference 2023 and previously co-hosted the 'Against Platform Determinism' workshop series, exploring how platform governance is shaped through interactions with users, industries, and infrastructures.
• Digital Democracies Institute (Simon Fraser University)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Digital Policy Rounds monthly series and collaborated on events including climate justice and polarization discussions. The Institute brings expertise on digital democracy research to joint programming.
• Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions (UBC)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Digital Policy Rounds series, bringing academic expertise on democratic institutions to discussions on technology and democracy.
• Leadership Lab at Toronto Metropolitan UniversitysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Digital Policy Rounds series, contributing research perspectives on technology and democratic governance.
• Centre for Law, Technology and Society (University of Ottawa)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Digital Policy Rounds series, bringing legal and policy expertise on technology governance.
• McGill University (Max Bell School of Public Policy)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Centre is established as an interdisciplinary research centre at McGill University's Max Bell School of Public Policy. Founding Director Taylor Owen holds the Beaverbrook Chair in Media, Ethics and Communications at the School. The School co-hosts events including the 'Regulating the Internet: Can Canadian Democracy Save Big Tech?' panel.
• Columbia University School of International and Public AffairsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Centre has partnered with Columbia SIPA on multiple events including the launch of 'Media Capture: How Money, Digital Platforms, and Governments Control the Media' and the 'Supporting Journalism: Should Countries Copy Australia's News Media Bargaining Code?' discussion featuring international competition ministers.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MediaTechDem

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy