Digital Publishing

Facial recognition technology (FRT) is increasingly deployed across both public and private sectors – from policing, immigration, and administrative enforcement to loss-prevention in the retail industry – under claims of efficiency, objectivity, and technological neutrality. This presentation challenges those claims by advancing the concept of algorithmic racism: the structural embedding of racial hierarchy into ostensibly neutral algorithmic systems through biased data, design choices, institutional incentives, and opaque deployment practices. Drawing on documented wrongful arrests in the United States, Federal Court litigation in Canada involving refugee-status revocations, and the growing use of FRT in commercial settings, the presentation demonstrates how FRT disproportionately misidentifies Black individuals, particularly Black women. The presentation situates the well-documented racial bias in FRT within a longer historical arc, arguing that contemporary FRT mirrors the exclusionary logic of the Jim Crow era – reproducing systemic racial hierarchy through ostensibly neutral technological systems. Framed as a modern continuation of past forms of racialized control, FRT operates not through explicit racial classification but through code, data, and automated decision-making. The presentation contends that, absent robust legal safeguards, transparency, and meaningful accountability, the deployment of facial recognition technologies risks entrenching algorithmic racism across both state and market institutions, underscoring the need for urgent regulatory intervention. Gideon Christian https://profiles.ucalgary.ca/gideon-christian Associate Professor Faculty of Law University of Calgary About the Speaker: My primary research interest is specifically in the areas of artificial intelligence (AI) and law, and generally in law and technology. My research work sheds light on the intersection of AI and law, from identifying and addressing legal issues arising from the adoption of new and emerging technologies in the justice system to identifying and addressing issues relating to racial bias in AI systems. **\* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \*** This is a talk with audience Q&A presented by the University of Toronto's Centre for Ethics that is free to attend and open to the public. The talk will also be streamed online with live chat here [to be posted]. About the Centre for Ethics (http://ethics.utoronto.ca): The Centre for Ethics is an interdisciplinary centre aimed at advancing research and teaching in the field of ethics, broadly defined. The Centre seeks to bring together the theoretical and practical knowledge of diverse scholars, students, public servants and social leaders in order to increase understanding of the ethical dimensions of individual, social, and political life. In pursuit of its interdisciplinary mission, the Centre fosters lines of inquiry such as (1) foundations of ethics, which encompasses the history of ethics and core concepts in the philosophical study of ethics; (2) ethics in action, which relates theory to practice in key domains of social life, including bioethics, business ethics, and ethics in the public sphere; and (3) ethics in translation, which draws upon the rich multiculturalism of the City of Toronto and addresses the ethics of multicultural societies, ethical discourse across religious and cultural boundaries, and the ethics of international society. The Ethics of A.I. Lab at the Centre For Ethics recently appeared on a list of 10 organizations leading the way in ethical A.I.: https://ocean.sagepub.com/blog/10-organizations-leading-the-way-in-ethical-ai

\*These classes are not a language exchange, but instead are meant to be a step in between so that students feel confident maintaining in depth and grammatically correct oral conversations outside of class\* \***Meetup event numbers only tend to show new students registering and do not include returning students attending class.** **Per class, there is an average of 7 students.** The first 2 classes are free and then only cost between $15 and $35 depending on which type of class you want to continue with\* These French, English (For Spanish and French speakers only), and Spanish classes are primarily meant for adults who are travellers, or who are planning to live in a French, English, or Spanish-speaking country. The classes are primarily oral-based through guided conversations. They will teach you how to handle conversations in situations such as **"Going to the Convenience Store"**, **"Making Plans"**, **"Negotiating Prices"**, and **"Going out for a Drink"**. To ensure that students get used to using the language automatically, students will learn to maintain contextual conversations with timing before moving on to the next lesson. Call (647)787-9953, e-mail us info@monkeylingo.ca, or visit monkeylingo.ca for more information! **Online and private classes are also available!** No other language classes are as conversational as these ones. We guarantee it! Cheap parking can be found using the "Spot Hero" app.

Let’s play some games to practice Japanese/English! The organizers will bring the games, but feel free to bring your own if you like. **All levels welcome!** 簡単なゲームをしながら日本語/英語を練習しましょう！主催者がゲームを用意しますが、お持ちになりたい方はご自由にお持ちください。**すべてのレベルの方歓迎** ————— **Schedule / スケジュール** * 6:30PM - 7:30PM: Group Game グループゲーム ("Codenames" for example) * 7:30PM - 9:00PM: New Groups and New Game (if you want) ————— Games Available / ゲームリスト: * [Codenames Pictures](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0FsQZqjPVY&t=1s) (4-10 players) * [Incan Gold](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/nMJS94f5sKM)[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EzJWcuDLvc)(2-8 players) * [Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlqDjkER5Ws) (2-5 players) * [Camel Up](https://youtube.com/shorts/ga6nKaEhwDo?si=KrOtctKDbpjgsnN3) (3-6 players) * [Saboteur](https://youtu.be/fpxfCDYJbVA?si=-ljlNHVHVWWyj728) (4-10players) * [Cockroach Poker](https://youtu.be/6oN_jf0To2w?si=y9aFWlzF1N4CRj0r) (2-6 players) Board Game Words / ボードゲームの言葉: https://drive.proton.me/urls/9JNDDGXYD0#MIdKiGhDemRe ————— **General Etiquette and Harassment Policy:** We do not tolerate harassment of our members, and will operate under a \*\*zero-tolerance rule and will promptly ban members who break it\*\*. This is your community too, so be sure to make use of all that it has to offer while taking care of it. Please reach out to organizers via Meetup chat to address any questions, comments, or concerns that you may have. メンバーへの嫌がらせは一切許容せず、\*\*ゼロトレランス方針のもと、違反者は即時排除します\*\*。このMeetupは皆様のものでもあります。大切にしながら、提供されているすべての機能を活用してください。ご質問・ご意見・ご懸念がございましたら、Meetupチャットを通じて運営者までご連絡ください。 (DeepLの翻訳です)

For the event details and registration use the user group event link: [TFPUG Feb 2026 Event - Fabric Real Time Intelligen... - Microsoft Fabric Community](https://community.fabric.microsoft.com/t5/Toronto-Fabric-Power-BI-User/TFPUG-Feb-2026-Event-Fabric-Real-Time-Intelligence/ev-p/4948482) The RSVP here is not considered a registration and it's just to announce the event to the meetup community. TFPUG Team [Toronto Fabric & Power BI User Group | Microsoft Fabric Community](https://community.fabric.microsoft.com/t5/Toronto-Fabric-User-Group/gh-p/TorontoFabricUserGroup) [Toronto Fabric & Power BI User Group | Meetup](https://www.meetup.com/toronto-fabric-user-group/) [Toronto Fabric & Power BI User Group | LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/toronto-fabric-user-group/)

\*These classes are not a language exchange, but instead are meant to be a step in between so that students feel confident maintaining in depth and grammatically correct oral conversations outside of class\* \***Meetup event numbers only tend to show new students registering and do not include returning students attending class.** **Per class, there is an average of 7 students.** The first 2 classes are free and then only cost between $15 and $45 depending on which type of class you want to continue with.\* These French, Spanish, and English, classes are primarily meant for adults who are travellers, or who are planning to live in a francophone, hispanophone, or anglophone country. *English in this class can only taught in French and Spanish unless you are an advanced learner* The classes are primarily oral-based through guided conversations. They will teach you how to handle conversations in situations such as **"Going to the Convenience Store"**, **"Making Plans"**, **"Negotiating Prices"**, and **"Going out for a Drink"**. To ensure that students get used to using the language automatically, students will learn to maintain contextual conversations with timing before moving on to the next lesson. **Program is also offered in private and online classes**. Call (647)787-9953, e-mail us info@monkeylingo.ca, or visit monkeylingo.ca for more information! **Online and private classes are also available!** No other French nor Spanish classes are as oral as these ones. We guarantee it! Group classes are hosted at **600 Bay Street** (Wishbone Animal Rights Lab) every Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Call (647)787-9953 upon arrival if no one is there to let you in, and someone will come down to let you in. Parking is available across from the Greyhound bus station on Elm Street and Bay Street.

A quiet evening of shared passages, meaningful conversation, glasses of wine and connection - because love deserves more than clichés. **Lovers and Readers** is an intentionally small, curated gathering designed for people who value books, meaningful conversation, and genuine connection. With only **12 guests**, this evening offers a rare opportunity to slow down, meet like-minded people, and engage in thoughtful dialogue about love, relationships, and the stories that shape us. **Get your ticket here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/loves-readers-tickets-1981592179552?aff=oddtdtcreator** Your ticket includes more than entry to an event! It offers a fully facilitated, multi-sensory experience: * **Guided connection** through lightly facilitated introductions and conversations that make getting to know new people feel natural and comfortable * **Deep, meaningful discussion** around love in all its forms, grounded in literature and personal reflection * **A glass of wine or non-alcoholic beverage** from **Neverland**, enjoyed in a cozy bookstore–wine bar setting * **A book of your choice to take home**, courtesy of **Flying Books** **What to Bring** Before the evening, choose a paragraph about love from a book you genuinely enjoy... the kind of line you underlined, dog-eared, or still think about. It doesn’t have to be about romantic love. We’ll be exploring love in all its forms: friendship, self-love, chosen family, devotion, longing, care, or however ***you experience and embody love***. You’ll be invited to read your passage aloud and share what it means to you - how it reflects your values, your experiences, or the way love shows up in your life. Think of it as a chance to let a book do some of the talking for you. First time at a Social Circuit event? You’re in good company. Everything is gently guided, there’s no pressure impress others, and curiosity matters far more than confidence. Come as you are - the room is designed to make getting to know each other feel easy and natural. This is not a book club, and it’s not a dating event. It’s a thoughtfully designed social experience for people who enjoy depth over small talk and connection over performance. Throughout the evening, facilitation will gently guide the flow - from introductions, to shared readings, to small-group conversations, creating an atmosphere that supports openness, ease, and authentic exchange. You don’t need to be an extrovert or a confident public speaker; the structure is designed to help everyone participate comfortably. Whether you come hoping to meet new friends, explore ideas about love and relationships, or simply spend an evening in good company with people who love books as much as you do, **Lovers and Readers** offers something meaningful to take with you, including a book you’ll choose yourself. **Accessibility** The bookstore is accessible directly from Queen Street West. Please note that the washroom is located downstairs and is accessed via a flight of stairs. If you have any accessibility needs, questions, or accommodations you’d like us to be aware of, please reach out to us in advance and we’ll do our best to accommodate. We are committed to creating thoughtful, inclusive events where everyone feels welcome and supported.

We are kicking off **2026** with a relaxed, in person **a11yTO** social focused on connection, reflection, and conversation. This is a casual evening with no formal presentation and no slides. The goal is simply to bring the community together, reconnect with familiar faces, meet new people, and share experiences from the past year. As part of the evening, we will offer optional mini lightning prompts for anyone who would like to participate. These are short, three minute reflections focused on looking back at 2025. You might share one accessibility win from last year that truly made a difference, or one thing that did not work and what it taught you. Listening is just as welcome as sharing, and there is no need to prepare anything in advance. Whether you are new to accessibility or have been working in the space for years, everyone is welcome. Register at: [https://tickets.a11yto.com/e/33/a11yto-february-social-reflecting-on-our-accessibility-journey-in-2025](https://tickets.a11yto.com/e/33/a11yto-february-social-reflecting-on-our-accessibility-journey-in-2025)

New Rules: Starting now, we are asking that each person contribute $2 towards maintaining this page. Without our space here on MeetUp, there is no group. So we ask that you bring a tooney when you come to keep us operational. Thank you very much! Thank you to everyone who has ordered something to eat or drink. It's very important that we each make a purchase, even just a tea or coffee, to maintain our welcome. Mil veces, gracias!

Elastic and Toronto Women's Data Group are happy to partner together on a community meetup in Toronto! Hear from two leading data professionals, who will share their insights on the Data/ML field, hard-earned lessons, and what the day-to-day really looks like. Whether you’re looking to learn, considering a pivot or advancing your career, this event is for you! Speakers: \- Ella Chen \- Software Engineer\, Shopify \- Jessica David \- Principal Data Engineer\, Elastic Schedule (subject to change): 6:00 pm - Doors open 6:30 pm - Speaker sessions, Q&A 8:00 pm - Networking/chatting Allies are welcome to attend, with the understanding that these events are focused on spotlighting the career experiences of women. **When:** February 12th 6:00 pm **Location:** 8 Spadina Ave See you there!

#### **This event page is for English speakers only.** **こちらのイベントページは英語話者の方向けです。** **日本人の方は、別のイベントページからお申し込みください！** *** We host a Japanese & English language exchange meeting every Sunday at 9:30 AM. Participants practice in pairs or small groups, with 50 minutes of Japanese practice and 50 minutes of English practice. The study materials used in our sessions are created by professional language teachers. ### **Before Signing Up, Please Read the Following** * **Please make sure to check the comments section of the event page, as all event details and materials will be shared there around Saturday.** * This meeting is intended for people who are genuinely interested in language learning. Participants joining for other purposes may be asked to leave. * We prioritize creating a safe and comfortable environment for all attendees. * Disruptive behavior, solicitation, or sales activities are not allowed. Anyone who does not follow the instructions of the organizer or staff may be removed from the group. * **Participation fee : Refunds and carryovers are not available.** ### **Participation Fee & Donation** Your participation fee will be used by Emiko Tanaka, a Yosakoi Ambassador, to promote Yosakoi Naruko Dance from Kochi, Japan, to the world. For more details, please visit our website: 🔗 [Yosakoi Ambassador Project](https://yosakoiambassador.com/) We look forward to seeing you at the event! 😊

Let's learn Agentic AI! Welcome to our [KSUG.AI Americas](https://us1.ksug.ai) meetup! **Latest promotions** discovered by our community! * **50%** off [Linux Foundation](https://gk.ksug.ai/) EXPIRED, [Get Notified](https://ksug.ai/?notify&ref=meet) for next BIG one! * **20%** off [KubeCon Europe](https://ksug.ai/events/?ref=meet) 2026 using code **KSAI20** * Up to **30%** off popular [Books](https://ksug.ai/books/?ref=meet) and [Events](https://ksug.ai/events/?ref=meet) Stop Babysitting LLMs, Start Shipping. PRs got bigger, not better. Seniors are burning hours on AI bug hunts while *throughput stays flat*. Encode your existing **SDLC** into a gated multi-agent flow so LLMs do the noisy work. Review changes that have already passed **CI**. ## **Swarm Architecture** Encodes a full SDLC loop (**issue** → **spec → plan → PR** → **gate** → **deploy**) in a gated **45-agent swarm** you can explore after the talk. ## **Shift Left** **Mutation-on-diff** and **contract/schema checks** wired into your agentic flow before review. Reduce **review pain** instead of just generating more code. ## **Failure Modes & Guardrails** Hallucinations, reward hacking, process confabulation, and how your architecture catches and fixes them before they reach reviewers. ## **Takeaways** * ✓You'll leave with a working **demo swarm repository** you can clone into your own repos, and a clearer way to decide when to lean on **tokens versus human review**. * ✓For platform and DevEx engineers, tech leads and staff+ developers, and engineering leaders who are tired of wrestling with AI-generated code and **review pain**. * ✓The talk and swarm will be released under **Apache 2.0**. *Come at 5:30 pm have some pizza and chat for a bit. The presentation starts at 6:00 pm.* **Volunteers / Sponsors / Speakers:** [KSUG.AI](https://ksug.ai/?ref=meetup) is actively seeking speakers & sponsors to support our KubeSmart & AI community. Whether it is by offering venue spaces, providing food, or financial support. Sponsors will not only speak at our meetups, receive prominent recognition, but also gain exposure to our extensive membership base of 31,000+ Cloud Native + AI enthusiasts globally. [Volunteering](https://volunteer.ksug.ai/), [Submit Topics](https://speaker.ksug.ai/), [Sponsor Us](https://sponsor.ksug.ai/)! 🚀 **Let's be [kubestrong](https://www.linkedin.com/company/kubestrong/)!** 🎉 Please take a note this event is organized by our peers. We thought it's useful to our members. Join **[#Discord](https://discord.com/invite/Rp9WzYyKua)** for latest update 👉 [https://discord.com/invite/Rp9WzYyKua](https://discord.com/invite/Rp9WzYyKua) 🔖 𝐎𝐧𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐬: ☸ **30%** OFF [#CNCF Certs](https://cka.ksug.ai/) \- code **30K8SUG** ☸ **37%** OFF [#KodeKloud plans](https://ksug.ai/kk/?ref=meet) \- code **K8SUGKK** 𝟏𝟖𝟎,𝟎𝟎𝟎+ follow **[KSUG.AI](https://ksug.ai/discount/?ref=meetup)** 🔥 [linktr.ee/ksug.ai](https://linktr.ee/ksug.ai) ✅ Learn 𝐅𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑 ⚡ ✅ Certify 𝐒𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐑 💰 ✅ Grow 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐑 💪 [KSUG.AI - KubeSmart & AI User Group](https://linkedin.com/company/k8sug) *By registering, you consent to the management of your personal information in accordance with KSUG.AI Meetup's [Privacy Policy](https://k8sug.ai/privacy). Additionally, you agree that our sponsors may contact you.* **[KSUG.AI](https://ksug.ai/?ref=meetup)** is an independent community and not affiliated with or endorsed by CNCF. Kubernetes, K8s, Kubestronaut are registered trademarks of The Linux Foundation.

\*These classes are not a language exchange, but instead are meant to be a step in between so that students feel confident maintaining in depth and grammatically correct oral conversations outside of class\* \***Meetup event numbers only tend to show new students registering and do not include returning students attending class.** **Per class, there is an average of 7 students.** The first 2 classes are free and then only cost between $18 and $36 depending on which type of class you want to continue with\* These French, English (For Spanish and French speakers only), and Spanish classes are primarily meant for adults who are travellers, or who are planning to live in a French, English, or Spanish-speaking country. The classes are primarily oral-based through guided conversations. They will teach you how to handle conversations in situations such as **"Going to the Convenience Store"**, **"Making Plans"**, **"Negotiating Prices"**, and **"Going out for a Drink"**. To ensure that students get used to using the language automatically, students will learn to maintain contextual conversations with timing before moving on to the next lesson. Call (647)787-9953, e-mail us info@monkeylingo.ca, or visit monkeylingo.ca for more information! **Online and private classes are also available!** No other language classes are as conversational as these ones. We guarantee it! Cheap parking can be found using the "Spot Hero" app.

Join us for our in-person Saturday critique session! We'll be meeting in the basement of **The Blake House**, which is located near Wellesley and Jarvis, about a 10-minute walk from Wellesley Station or Sherbourne Station. **In respect to the Blake House for hosting us, we humbly request that attendees purchase a meal, dessert, or drink if you are able to do so.** Feel free to bring in a piece of writing up to **2000 words** for reading and critique. Please bring paper copies so that listeners can easily follow and make notes. Dedicated listeners are equally welcome. In larger groups, please be mindful of giving everyone a fair chance to speak. Our group values and meeting structure can be found here: [https://www.torontosffwriters.com/sff-writer-rules-and-guidelines](https://www.torontosffwriters.com/sff-writer-rules-and-guidelines) We ask that writers provide content warnings when necessary. To limit the spread of diseases, we kindly ask that you stay home if you're feeling sick. We will be here every week! **\*\*We support the hard work and effort that goes into writing fiction, and do not condone the use of AI to replace the creative process.\*\*** And, that's everything! See you there!

The topic for February is "Transitions" Speak Easy: true stories, told live. The idea is simple: an audience, an open microphone, and great stories. Hilarious, gripping, poignant- it's up to you. Audiences are invited to come to listen or come to tell as folks from all corners of Columbus offer their stories live on stage! Held at Wild Goose Creative's warm, intimate space, this night of tales occurs on the 3rd Thursday of every month. Doors open at 6:30 pm, show starts at 7:00 pm. Please arrive early if you want to tell, as we generally only have room for a limited number of tellers, and the sign-up sheet has a tendency to fill up fast. Formed around the idea that people need stories--they're what hold and draw us together--SpeakEasy celebrates the strangeness and commonness of being human. And in a world of smartphones, Facebook, Twitter, and more . . . it gives people a real, breathing, in-person way to connect. The night is geared for true stories of all kinds, taking the best tales told around kitchen tables, in darkened pubs, on the street corner, and at late-night parties and giving them an audience. Speak Easy is also a great outlet for performers, writers, and artists looking to share their favorite stories and perfect their skills. We strongly encourage tellers to please tell the story rather than read it so we keep within the spirit of good storytelling and stay engaged with the audience. All are welcome. Hang around after the show for a drink and build community!

Rev. Steven Clevenger is an ordained spiritualist minister with over 40 years experience as a Spiritual Healer, Clairvoyant and Spiritual Teacher, educated and trained at the White Lily Chapel. Rev. Siobhan Wolf Shaffer is an ordained spiritualist minister and certified medium and healer with over 20 years experience. She began her development in 1988 in Pennsylvania and continued when she moved to Ohio in 1998 where she studied at Rays of Lights Church with Rev. Steven Clevenger. Our full worship services consist of an inspirational lecture, healing meditation, and messages from the spirit world that serve to demonstrate evidence of eternal life. Please visit our Official Church Website (http://raysoflightchurch.com) for more information.

NFT's are here to stay folks! This is a group for like minded people interested in understanding, leveraging, using, creating for, profiting from, trading too i suppose, NFT's.. everything around them, complexity, fear and exploits, best practices and more. **PLUS** This group will talk AI ART tools, techniques, artists, video, audio, prototypes and more in the AI assisted production space- ART specifically, but we can get into any aspect of some of the cooler things happening in AI in general.

Calling all founders, CEOs, lawyers, doctors, and entrepreneurs to join our special *Founder Edition* of Sip & Read meetup event. Let's sip on fine wine and discuss our first book **The 5AM Club- Own Your Morning Elevate Your Life, by Robin Sharma**. We will pair this book with our favorite wine at **Wine on High** and engage in thought-provoking discussions on startup businesses and entrepreneurship, and network with like-minded individuals in a cozy book club setting. Come prepared to discuss this month's book. At the end of each book club meeting, we will take next book and venue suggestions from the participants for the next meeting. Whether you are a book lover, women entrepreneur, or a content creator, this event is perfect for sharing ideas and insights with other funders and founders in the entrepreneurial world. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to connect, learn, and grow together. Sign up now to reserve your spot! *Fun fact! This meetup was established in 2015 and had over 1,000 members. I had to shut down operations while attending law school, but we're back!!*