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The Classification of AI Chatbots as High-Risk Systems in Legal Frameworks to Reduce their Risk to Human Safety
Full text linkThis paper was originally written for Dr. Alys Avalos Rivera’s English 114W course Language and Purpose. The assignment asked students to create a persuasive piece on one of five available topics to raise awareness about an issue of public interest and propose a feasible solution, while also addressing the solution’s limitations. This paper focuses on the topic of human and AI relationships. The paper uses APA citation style.
AI chatbots are one of the defining instruments of human and AI relationships today. As these chatbots are increasingly integrated into various aspects of human society, ranging from business to medical to personal uses, the need to address the risks that these chatbots pose to society is also elevated. This paper argues that classifying AI chatbots as “high-risk systems” under Canada’s newly proposed Artificial Intelligence and Data Act (AIDA) would reduce the risks posed by the personalized nature of AI chatbots. While critics argue that the stricter regulations imposed by this Act and it’s internationally aligning structure could lead to Canada falling behind in the global AI race, this paper shows how AIDA is more likely to support Canadian AI innovation rather than stifle it
The Revolutionary Forces of the G9 Family and Allies: Introducing a New Typology of Violent Actor
Full text linkThis research provides a critical assessment of Haiti’s contemporary ‘gang’ crisis through an in-depth analysis of the Revolutionary Forces of the G9 Family and Allies (G9). It questions if G9 truly is a gang, and if not, what is it? And how might we better understand it? Through an application of the Terrorism and Extremism Matrix (Kelshall & Archutowski, 2019), this research argues that G9 is not, in fact, a gang, and can instead be more accurately understood under a new typology of violent hybrid actors. An assessment of G9’s structure, motivations, objectives, capacity for violence, violence rationale, and group visibility, demonstrates that the actor transcends traditional categorisations as it blends characteristics from gangs, organised crime syndicates, and terrorists to act as a hybrid entity. This research additionally illustrates the significance and implications of this reclassification, and how context-specific policy and law enforcement approaches can enable more effective mitigation and disruption measures
Epigenetic Consciousness: Understanding Historical Trauma, Identity Formation, and the Path to Transformational Healing
Full text linkGrowing up on the cracked sidewalks of Milwaukee, I experienced firsthand the intergenerational constraints of poverty, racialized schooling, and systemic neglect—forces that quietly inscribed trauma into both cultural memory and biological inheritance. This article introduces the concept of epigenetic consciousness, a framework that weaves together personal narrative, critical theory, and emerging epigenetic science to explore how historical trauma shapes identity across generations.
Drawing on interdisciplinary research, I examine molecular mechanisms such as DNA methylation and histone modifications that encode trauma within our biology, while also honoring the rich cultural traditions of resilience found in African epistemologies and ancestral memory. The article challenges reductionist views of trauma as merely individual pathology by juxtaposing the insights of scholars like Rachel Yehuda and Nadine Burke Harris with the enduring wisdom of concepts such as Sankofa. Instead, it positions both trauma and resilience as complex, co-inherited legacies that influence educational outcomes, health disparities, and self-perception.
Moreover, this work explores how trauma-informed pedagogy, communal rituals, and innovative digital collaborations—including the strategic use of artificial intelligence—can disrupt inherited cycles of oppression. In reimagining educational and healing practices, it argues for a collective rewriting of inherited narratives, transforming survivors of historical trauma into architects of a new human identity grounded in critical consciousness and resilience.
In doing so, the article contributes a nuanced scholarly perspective. It offers a call to action for communities and educators seeking to bridge the biological, historical, and cultural dimensions of healing. By reconceptualizing the interplay between inherited trauma and the potential for transformation, it lays the groundwork for future research and praxis at the intersections of science, culture, and personal liberation
KNOWLEDGE RESIDES IN CONSENSUS: HOW EXTREMISTS TRY TO CONTROL TRUTH THROUGH SOCIAL DYNAMICS
Full text linkOn November 21, 2024, Dr. J.M. Berger presented Knowledge Resides in Consensus: How Extremists Try to Control Truth Through Social Dynamics for this year’s West Coast Security Conference. The presentation was followed by a question-and-answer period with questions from the audience and CASIS Vancouver executives. The key points discussed were how extremism can be defined as related to intergroup conflict, how the age of the internet has made it easier for extremist groups to push out propaganda and exploit microtargeting to flourish, and how extremism exploits a desire for cognitive security.
Received: 12-17-2024
Revised: 01-30-202
Compassionate Places: Developing and Implementing a Method for Interdisciplinary, Humanistic Spatial Design and Place Quality Standards
Full text linkAbstract: The design of the built environment has profound impacts on human health and social well-being. However, the significant opportunity for architecture, urban design, and spatial planning to intentionally enhance human life and address societal challenges is currently overlooked. The Compassionate Places Method, introduced in this paper, proposes a humanistic, interdisciplinary approach for spatial design that considers multifaceted factors related to human needs, human nature, and human experience. In contrast to business-as-usual practices which focus on physical “bricks-and-mortar” factors, the Compassionate Places Method situates spatial design as a vital component for actively enhancing people’s wellbeing and quality of life. This novel design approach incorporates insights from disciplines that consider the effect of places on people but are not typically included as part of design processes, such as public health, environmental psychology, social sciences, neuroscience, and the arts. This paper explains the development of the Compassionate Places Method through long-term, practice-based research, and built design projects. The approach was implemented into a London local authority’s spatial planning processes in 2023 as design standards for “Place Quality”. This aims to embed health, social well-being, and inclusivity into the practices of design and planning through new guidance and requirements in the planning permission system.
Implications: This research sets the platform for an approach that can help designers and planners systematically consider the human factors and impacts of built environment design in an intentional and structured manner. It aims to contribute to a paradigm shift that situates human health and social well-being at the center of everyday design and planning processes to maximize the potential for the built environment to support human flourishing
Echoes of Extremism: The Impact of Social Media on Group Identity, Moral Disengagement, and Dehumanization
Full text linkThe digital revolution and the resulting social media platforms have brought about a transformation in human communications and intergroup relations. This paper examines the role of social media in shaping the dynamics of extremist group memberships. It explores how social media facilitates the spread of extremist ideologies and the recruitment and radicalization processes, leveraging theories such as Social Identity Theory and concepts like moral disengagement. The paper also discusses how the anonymity and global reach of social media enable these groups to not only strengthen their identities and cohesion but also engage in moral disengagement mechanisms, such as dehumanization, which rationalize extremist behaviours. Finally, it discusses the dual potential of social media to both propagate extremist views and serve as a tool for counter-radicalization efforts. Through a critical analysis of how digital environments influence group dynamics and individual behaviours, this essay contributes to the understanding of digital intergroup relations and underscores the need for strategic interventions to mitigate the adverse effects of social media on societal cohesion.
Keywords— Social Media, Intergroup Relations, Extremist Groups, Moral Disengagement, Radicalization
The Role of Intelligence Agencies in Repression and Torture by Myanmar's Military Junta Intelligence and its Human Rights Abuses During the 2021 Revolution
Full text linkMyanmar's political landscape has been marked by repeated military coups, leading to prolonged periods of authoritarian rule through systemic human rights violations, particularly repression and torture. This study explores the critical role of Myanmar's intelligence agencies in the systematic repressions and torture practices under the military junta during the 2021 revolution. By utilizing Political Violence Theory, this study exposes authoritarian regimes, intelligence operations, and their methods and strategies to uphold the military's power against civilian uprisings. The primary focus of the study is to discuss how these entities contributed to human rights violations in Myanmar.
Received: 11-10-2024
Revised: 01-10-2025
Through applying a qualitative approach of in-depth interviews with 35 stakeholders and incorporating historical context, interviews, and secondary data, this research identifies the multifaceted roles of intelligence in enforcing state-sponsored violence and fear. The findings illustrate the operational dynamics of intelligence agencies actively orchestrating arrests and killings through legal and extrajudicial control, enforced disappearances, and torture, alongside pervasive surveillance, targeted repression, and use of civilian Pro-Military Groups. This paper argues for a robust international response to address these human rights abuses, recommending strategies for accountability and structural reform within Myanmar's intelligence apparatus
THE NECESSARY EVOLUTION OF COUNTER-INTELLIGENCE IN RESPONSE TO FOREIGN INTERFERENCE
Full text linkOn November 21, 2024, a Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) Executive presented The Necessary Evolution of Counter Intelligence in response to Foreign Interference for this year’s West Coast Security Conference. The presentation was followed by a question-and-answer period with questions from the audience and CASIS Vancouver executives. The key theme discussed was how intelligence work has transformed since the end of the Cold War and in response to the threat of Foreign Interference in particular. The presenter outlined why Canada is an attractive target for Foreign Interference threat actors and highlighted how Canada’s intelligence professionals and legislative framework has had to evolve as a result.
Received: 12-30-2024
Revised: 01-27-202
KEY TAKEAWAYS REGARDING THE INTENTIONS OF RUSSIA’S MEDIA CAMPAIGNS
Full text linkOn November 20, 2024, Julia Davis presented Key Takeaways Regarding the Intentions of Russia’s Media Campaigns for this year’s West Coast Security Conference. The presentation was followed by a question-and-answer period with questions from the audience and CASIS Vancouver executives. The key points discussed were Russia’s potent hybrid warfare capabilities, how Russian media acts as an extension of its intelligence apparatus and should therefore be viewed as such, and why the West should view Russian rhetoric with greater caution given that media groups often explicitly outline the State’s broader ambitions.
Received: 12-20-2024
Revised: 01-15-202
INCENDIARY ALCHEMIES: HOW CONSPIRACY THEORISTS, INTERNET ALGORITHMS, AND FAKE NEWS STORIES FOILED FIRST RESPONDERS AND UNDERMINED EVACUATION ORDERS IN THE SHUSWAP FOREST FIRES
Full text linkOn November 18th, 2024, Dr. Wade Deisman presented Incendiary Alchemies: How Conspiracy Theorists, Internet Algorithms, and Fake News Stories Foiled First Responders and Undermined Evacuation Orders in the Shuswap Forest Fires. The presentation was followed by a question-and-answer period with questions from the audience and CASIS Vancouver executives. The key points discussed were the erosion of the conditions of possibility for democratic engagement, the role of digital culture in the process of public opinion formation, and the need for framework which acknowledges that the confluence between corrosive forces can create cascading synergies.
Received: 12-27-2024
Revised: 01-28-202