Quebec has emerged as a national leader in technology and artificial intelligence — but with that growth has come rising concern over how digital platforms collect, manage, and protect user data. In 2025, these concerns have reached a boiling point, prompting a powerful coalition of tech firms, privacy experts, and civil society organizations to advocate for stronger digital rights frameworks tailored to Quebec’s legal and cultural context.

In a province known for charting its own course on language, education, and health, the push for digital autonomy is no surprise. Quebec’s Law 25 — a sweeping data privacy law adopted in 2021 — was one of the first in Canada to align with European GDPR standards. But as new technologies outpace existing protections, advocates say the law must evolve — and fast.

Montréal: AI Capital Meets Ethical Crossroads

Montréal has become one of North America’s top AI hubs, home to institutes like Mila and NextAI, and a dense network of machine learning firms. But even within these circles, unease is growing. Algorithms trained on sensitive data can replicate bias, automate discrimination, or leak private information without sufficient safeguards.

In 2024, a local facial recognition company faced public backlash for using surveillance footage in training data without consent — sparking calls for sector-wide ethical review boards and independent oversight. Researchers say these tools are too powerful to go unregulated.

Provincial Push for Digital Rights

Quebec’s Ministry of Cybersecurity and Digital Affairs is now reviewing proposals to expand Law 25, including tighter consent rules for biometric data, clearer AI explainability standards, and new penalties for data breaches. One proposal would also require all companies using predictive algorithms in hiring or lending to conduct third-party audits.

Public consultations in early 2025 revealed broad support: from teachers concerned about student data in ed-tech platforms, to parents wary of children’s exposure to algorithmic content online.

Indigenous Digital Sovereignty and Local Impacts

Another growing voice in the conversation comes from Indigenous tech leaders, who are calling for data governance frameworks that respect sovereignty and cultural protocols. The First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Economic Development Commission (FNQLEDC) has called for dedicated funding to help Indigenous organizations audit third-party software and cloud platforms.

“We’ve been surveilled for centuries,” said one Atikamekw developer at a recent forum. “Now we want to control the digital narrative — and that includes how our data is used.”

Industry Response and Support

Notably, many tech companies in Quebec support these reforms. A 2025 survey by TechnoCompétences found that 68% of firms believe stronger regulations will actually improve innovation by creating trust with users and clients. Several startups have already appointed Chief Ethics Officers or data stewards in anticipation of new legal requirements.

“We’re not against rules — we want better ones,” says Réjean Belair, co-founder of a health-tech platform in Sherbrooke. “Right now, it's a legal grey zone. That’s not good for us, and it’s not good for the people we serve.”

Looking Ahead: Toward a Digital Charter for Quebec

As the province navigates a new era of AI and digitization, experts are calling for the development of a “Digital Charter for Quebec” — a provincial bill of rights for digital citizenship. This would outline principles such as consent, transparency, algorithmic fairness, and digital literacy, while reinforcing accountability for companies and institutions.

With the tech sector booming, and public awareness at an all-time high, 2025 may be the year Quebec reasserts itself — not just as a tech powerhouse, but as a leader in ethical digital governance.