In light of a new executive order on artificial intelligence signed by U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office at the White House on January 23, 2025, as reported from Washington (AP Photo by Ben Curtis), concerns are mounting among Canadian medical researchers and legal professionals. They caution that the tense diplomatic interactions between Canada and the U.S. underscore an urgent need to safeguard one of Canada’s most critical assets: patient health information. This data is increasingly being eyed for training AI technologies, posing significant privacy and sovereignty risks. These experts argue that the commercialization and use of such data by foreign powers could not only compromise individual privacy rights but also national interests in maintaining control over sensitive health information. The call to protect Canadian health data from international exploits has become more pronounced amidst growing aspirations to leverage AI in healthcare. The emphasis is on implementing robust mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access and misuse of this information, ensuring it remains a resource for Canadian advancements in technology and healthcare, not leaving its borders without stringent oversight.