Weekly News (May 22, 2018)
Compiled by Ian Steinberg
McMaster University, Communications Governance Lab
Canadian News (May 14-21, 2018)
[PRIVACY; ELECTION COMMUNICATIONS] Federal Liberals to limit debate on new elections bill (The Globe and Mail)
[TELECOM POLICY] ‘It’s a complicated system’: CRTC to address problems in new wireless emergency alert system (Financial Post)
[COMPETITION POLICY; BROADBAND POLICY] Internet resellers see 5G wireless as a new type of challenge from big carriers (The Globe & Mail)
[MEDIA FUNDING] Bernhard: La Presse throws in the towel. Who’s next? (The Star)
[PLATFORM REGULATION] Justin Trudeau boasts Canada’s technology research during MIT address (CP/ Global)
[PLATFORM REGULATION] With Netflix tax, politics have frozen the politicians (The Globe and Mail)
[PLATFORM REGULATION] Is Ottawa’s honeymoon with Silicon Valley coming to an end? (The Star)
[PLATFORM GOVERNANCE] Facebook suspends 200 apps in wake of data-sharing scandal (The Star)
[ARTIFICIAL INTEL POLICY] Bernstein: To increase Canadian innovation, take a lesson from our AI successes (The Globe & Mail)
[ACCESS TO LAW] Supreme Court of Canada to keep records of deliberations secret for at least 50 years (The Globe and Mail)
[CONFIDENTIALITY] We all lose when ‘open court’ idealism gives way to efficient trial approach in MediaTube-Bell suit (Financial Post)
International News (May 14-21, 2018)
[NET NEUTRALITY] Senate Backs Effort to Restore ‘Net Neutrality’ Rules (New York Times)
[PLATFORM REGULATION] Lawmakers are nudging Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey to testify before Congress on privacy (Washington Post)
[PLATFORM REGULATION] Progressive Groups Launch Campaign to Break Up Facebook (Variety)
[PLATFORM REGULATION] Google to Hold Talks With Publishers Over Their GDPR Concerns (Wall Street Journal)
[PLATFORM / POSTAL REGULATION] Trump personally pushed postmaster general to double rates on Amazon, other firms (Washington Post)
[ELECTION CYBERSECURITY] The Cybersecurity 202: We surveyed 100 security experts. Almost all said state election systems were vulnerable (Washington Post)
[ELECTION CYBERSECURITY] The Cybersecurity 202: Google wants to help political groups fight these cheap but disruptive cyberattacks (Washington Post)
[PRIVACY] ICE just abandoned its dream of ‘extreme vetting’ software that could predict whether a foreign visitor would become a terrorist (Washington Post)
[PRIVACY] Cambridge Analytica Files for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in U.S. (Wall Street Journal-subscriber access)
[PRIVACY] U.K. vs. U.S.: How Much of Your Personal Data Can You Get? (New York Times)
[PRESS FREEDOM] Revealed: Storyful uses tool to monitor what reporters watch (Guardian)
[TELECOM TRADE] Penalties against China telecom giant ZTE become a bargaining chip as White House, Chinese officials discuss potential trade deal (Washington Post)
[SURVEILLANCE] Huawei’s partnership with China on surveillance technology raises concerns for foreign users (Globe & Mail)
Press Releases and Decisions (May 14-21, 2018)
Supreme Court of Canada
· [LANGUAGE RIGHTS] Joseph Roy Éric Bessette c. Procureur général de la Colombie-Britannique (C.-B.) (
o (La demande d’autorisation d’appel est accueillie avec dépens suivant l’issue de la cause. / The application for leave to appeal is granted with costs in the cause.)
· [LIBEL AND SLANDER] Darren John v. Alex Ballingall et al. (Ont.) (Civil) (By Leave) (37780)
o (The application for leave to appeal is dismissed with costs. / La demande d’autorisation d’appel est rejetée avec dépens.)
· [COMPUTER SEARCH & SEIZURE; CHILD PORNOGRAPHY] Thomas Reeves v. Her Majesty the Queen (Ont.) (Criminal) (By Leave) (37676)
o Appeal heard 2018-05-17
House of Commons
International Trade (CIIT) Report: E-Commerce: Certain Trade-Related Priorities of Canada’s Firms
CRTC
· News releases
o Stephen B. Simpson to the annual conference of the British Columbia Association of Broadcasters
o Voter Contact Registry in effect during the federal by-election in Quebec
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
Government of Canada takes steps to improve competition and quality of wireless services
Rural and remote communities in the North will benefit from high-speed Internet
Putting the best research tools in the hands of Canada’s scientists
Government of Canada supports consumers’ rights
Why scientists must be free to speak
Federal government invests in innovative training for aerospace and defence sectors
Microsoft
Microsoft’s commitment to GDPR, privacy and putting customers in control of their own data
Facebook Publishes Enforcement Numbers for the First Time
Announcing New Election Partnership with the Atlantic Council
Upcoming Events
Supreme Court of Canada
o [FREEDOM OF THE PRESS; JOURNALIST-SOURCE COMMUNICATIONS] Vice Media Canada Inc. et al. v. Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada (Ont.) (Civil) (By Leave) (37574); hearing: 2018-05-23
o [PRIVACY; SEARCH & SEIZURE; INTERNET LURING] Sean Patrick Mills v. Her Majesty the Queen (N.L.) (Criminal) (By Leave) (37518); hearing: 2018-05-25
Senate of Canada
Sitting Days: May 22-25, 2018
Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade (AEFA): May 23, 2018, 4:15 PM,
· Study on the impact and utilization of culture and arts in foreign policy and diplomacy
o Margaret McGuffin, Executive Director (Canadian Music Publishers Association)
o Louise Jeanne Poulin, Chief Executive Officer (ArtExpert.ca)
· The subject matter of those elements contained in Division 8 of Part 6 of Bill C-74
o Consideration of draft report
House of Commons
Sitting Days: May 22-25, 2018
Order of Business: May 22:
· C-76 (second reading – amendment) C-76 — The Minister of Democratic Institutions — Elections Modernization Act — Second reading (resuming debate on the amendment of Mr. Nater (Perth—Wellington)
· Private Members’ Motions — M-168 M-168 — Mr. Oliver (Oakville) — Net neutrality (resuming debate)
Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology:
· Statutory Review of the Copyright Act
Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage (CHPC):
· Tuesday, May 22, 2018, 8:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m: Remuneration Models for Artists and Creative Industries; Cultural Hubs and Cultural Districts in Canada
CRTC
· Anticipated releases for the week of 22 to 25 May 2018:
o 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:
§ Applications by various licensees to renew the broadcasting licences for various radio stations
§ Decisions relating to the following applications considered under the Commission’s Part 1 process:
§ Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
CBVE-FM Québec and its transmitter CBVB-FM Chandler – Technical changes
Public record for this application: 2018-0143-1
§ Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
CBGA-FM Matane and its transmitter CBGA-FM-16 Chandler – Technical changes
Public record for this application: 2018-0145-7
· Upcoming hearings:
o 31 May 2018 – Gatineau, Quebec
To Consider the broadcasting applications listed in Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2018-106, 2018-106-1, 201
View hearing documents (2018-106)
o 19 June 2018 (previously 18 June 2018) – Gatineau, Quebec
To Consider the broadcasting applications listed in Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2018-128 and 2018-128-1
View hearing documents (2018-128)