Weekly News (Mar. 12th – 18th)

Communications Governance in the News

Compiled by Márcio E. Gonçalves

Research Assistant, Communications Governance Lab

M.A. Candidate, Communication and New Media, McMaster University

Canadian News (March 5-11, 2018)

• [CULTURAL POLICY] CPTPP side deals leave door open for Canada to regulate Netflix, experts say (The Financial Post)
• [PRIVACY] Ottawa’s privacy watchdog wants limits on spies’ information collecting powers (The Toronto Star)
• [PRIVACY] Geist: No longer fit for purpose: Why Canadian privacy law needs an update (The Toronto Star)
• [PRIVACY] Two years after they said they didn’t, Toronto police admit they use Stingray cellphone snooping device (The Toronto Star)
• [PRIVACY] How the Star finally learned Toronto police used cellphone data-catching devices (The Toronto Star)
• [PRIVACY] Jha: Canadians lack proper human rights protection from cellphone monitoring (The Toronto Star)
• [CANCON] Are the Canadian Screen Awards too Canadian? (Toronto Star)
• [SMART CITIES] The risks of becoming a Google city (The Toronto Star)
• [PRIVACY] Uber will inform all Canadians whose data may have been compromised in 2016 breach (CTV News)
• [SEXUAL MISCONDUCT IN SCREEN INDUSTRY] AfterMeToo releases report aimed at mobilizing reform to end sexual violence (CP24/CP)
• [SOCIAL MEDIA REGULATION] The long road to fixing Facebook (The Globe and Mail)
• [INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY] BlackBerry Brings Patent Case Against Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram (Wall St. Journal)

International News (March 5-11, 2018)

• [NET NEUTRALITY] Washington state sticks it to the FCC, passes its own Net-neutrality rules (USA Today)
• [TELECOM] Why Companies and Countries Are Battling for Ascendancy in 5G (The New York Times)
• [VIDEO GAME REGULATION] Trump discusses violence with video game execs and critics (Washington Post)
• [PRESS REGULATION] Labour demands reopening of Leveson inquiry over press ‘blagging’ claims (Guardian)
• [FREEDOM OF SPEECH] Judge to Trump: Muting, not blocking followers, may end suit (Washington Post)
• [SOCIAL MEDIA REGULATION] New federal rules on Facebook and Google ads may not be in place for 2018 midterms (Washington Post)
• [SOCIAL MEDIA REGULATION] Putin says he doesn’t care about alleged U.S. election interference (Toronto Star)
• [PRIVACY] FBI chief: Corporate hack victims can trust we won’t share info (Reuters)
• [PRIVACY] Facebook Really Is Spying on You, Just Not Through Your Phone’s Mic (The Wall Street Journal – subscriber access)
• [INFO SECURITY] Twitter wants to open verification to everyone (The Washington Post)

Press Releases and Decisions (March 5-11, 2018)

Senate of Canada

• Senators study vitality of francophone community of Winnipeg

Canadian Heritage

• Budget 2018: Investing in Canada’s Innovators, Scientists and Researchers
• Minister Joly to Present an Award at the 2018 Canadian Screen Awards
• Statement by Minister Joly on International Women’s Day

CRTC

• Telecom decision 2018-85
  2018-03-08 11:00
  CRTC Interconnection Steering Committee – Consensus report on a proposed wireless public alerting awareness and education campaign – Public record: 8621-C12-01/08
• Telecom decision 2018-84
  2018-03-07 11:00
  TELUS Communications Inc. – Application for forbearance from the regulation of billing and collection service – Public record: 8640-T66-201608408
• Telecom decision 2018-83
  2018-03-07 11:00
  Bell Canada – Application for forbearance from the regulation of billing and collection service – Public record: 8640-B2-201606245
• Telecom decision 2018-82
  2018-03-05 11:00
  Iristel Inc. – Application regarding the implementation of local competition in the exchange of Aylmer, Ontario – Public record: 8663-J64-201611913

Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada

• Privacy Commissioner submits his views for the review of Bill C-59

Microsoft

• International Women’s Day: Three simple ways we can all #PressforProgress for women in STEM

Facebook

• Global Safety Summit
• Catalyst Housing Fund Attracts New Investor
• When Women Lead, Everyone Progresses

Apple

• Apple releases 12th annual Supplier Responsibility Progress Report

Upcoming Events

Senate of Canada

• Senate next sits March 20, 2018

Canadian House of Commons

• The House is adjourned until Monday, March 19, 2018.

CRTC

• Anticipated releases for the week of 12 to 16 March 2018: The CRTC plans to issue the following decisions and/or regulatory policies in the coming week. This list may be incomplete and is subject to change without notice.

o   Broadcasting Decisions:

• Decisions relating to the following applications considered under the Commission’s Part 1 process:
• Sirius XM Canada: Tangible benefits proposal filed by Sirius XM Canada Inc.  Public record for this application: 2017-0560-0
• Ethnic Channels Group Limited: Addition of various non-Canadian programming services to the List of non-Canadian programming services and stations authorized for distribution: Public record for these applications: 2017-1155-7, 2017-1072-3, 2017-1075-7, 2017-1082-2 and 2017-1084-8
• Public Hearings at the Commission Headquarters, Gatineau, Quebec, March 27 at 11 AM
• Newly-announced consultations:

o   Broadcasting:

• Multicultural Broadcasting Corporation Inc. Radio (ethnic). Renewal – apparent non-compliance Canadian Content Development Contributions Renewal of licence: CKYR-FM. Deadline: 11 April 2018

o   Telecom:

• TELUS Communications Inc.: Application for Forbearance for Expansion of Certain Determinations from Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2015-326. Deadline: 8 April 2018
• DMTS a division of Bell Canada: Implementation plan for facilities – based local competition. Deadline: 5 April 2018
• Bell Canada: Forbearance from the Regulation of Low-speed Competitor Digital Network (CDN) Services. Deadline: 4 April 2018

Global Affairs Canada

• Media Accreditation now open for the G7 Ministerial on Preparing for Jobs of the Future March 27-28