**Concerns Grow Over Influence of Recommendation Engines in Canada** The rise of recommendation engines has sparked significant concern regarding their impact on Canadian civic life. These systems, designed to maximize user engagement, often prioritize commercial interests over democratic values. As a result, they create a personalized experience that can manipulate public discourse without users realizing it. A recent analysis highlights how these algorithms operate. Users may believe they are making independent choices when they scroll through content, but their selections are heavily influenced by the systems that predict and promote what they see. This process, described as soft coercion, raises questions about the integrity of public conversation in Canada. Recommendation engines thrive on engagement metrics that often correlate with sensationalism, outrage, and tribalism. This focus on keeping users engaged can lead to a distorted public square, where commercial optimization takes precedence over civic engagement. Every interaction on these platforms—whether a pause, swipe, or comment—serves as a data point that helps refine user profiles. This data-driven approach creates an illusion of control, keeping users glued to their screens while steering public discourse in ways that may not align with Canadian values. The implications of this system are profound. With foreign companies controlling what Canadians see, there is a growing concern that Canada has outsourced a critical aspect of its democratic infrastructure. Unlike traditional media, which was regulated to ensure the dissemination of information and culture, recommendation engines operate without similar oversight. Attempts to regulate these systems, such as the artificial intelligence and data act, have faced significant hurdles. Even if such legislation had passed, it would have only minimally addressed the influence of these algorithms on Canadian society. The effects of unregulated recommendation systems are evident in various sectors. In education, questionable sources may be prioritized for their engagement potential rather than their accuracy. In healthcare, symptom assessments can be influenced by opaque algorithms that patients cannot scrutinize. During elections, voters may be inundated with misleading content that is difficult for regulators to audit. This situation is not merely a debate about content; it represents a fundamental infrastructure issue. The algorithms that govern user attention function similarly to legal frameworks, yet they lack the necessary oversight. Current Canadian laws were not designed to address the complexities of these systems, which behave like law but operate outside its boundaries. As these opaque systems continue to shape public opinion and behavior, the need for a robust regulatory framework becomes increasingly urgent. Without proper governance, the potential harms to trust, social cohesion, and the well-being of Canadian youth may continue to grow, leaving the nation vulnerable to external influences that do not prioritize the interests of its citizens.