Weekly News (Aug. 13, 2018)

Compiled by Charnjot Shokar

McMaster University, Communications Governance Observatory

Canadian News: Aug. 7 – 12

• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] Supreme Court to scrutinize media source protection in Quebec case (Herald News)
• [TELECOM] Lett: For politicians, cell coverage in rural areas is touch call (Winnipeg Free Press)
• [PRIVACY] TTC fare inspector used private info to ask a woman on a date (The Star)
• [PRIVACY] Pot exchange publishes investors’ personal information (The Star)
• [COPYRIGHT] Shopify battles the scammers behind fake web stores (The Star)

International News: Aug. 7 – 12

• [PRIVACY] New Law May Force Small Businesses to Reveal Data Practices (NYT)
• [PRIVACY] UK Watchdog Fines Child Care Company for Selling Data (NYT)
• [PLATFORM GOVERNANCE; CENSORSHIP] Alex Jones’s social-media banishment spotlights the importance of transparent censorship (Globe and Mail – subscriber access)
• [PLATFORM GOVERNANCE; CENSORSHIP] Bots vs. Trolls: How AI Could Clean Up Social Media (WSJ – subscriber access)
• [MEDIA OWNERSHIP] Brazil’s Haddad promises media ownership reform if elected (National Post)
• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] Global rights group slams Bangladesh government for attacks (Washington Post)
• [PRIVACY] Hennessey: Siri, Why Do I Feel Like I’m Being Watched? (WSJ – subscriber access)

Press Releases and Decisions: Aug. 7 – 12

Supreme Court of Canada

• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] Marie-Maude Denis c. Marc-Yvan Côté (Qc) (Civile) (Autorisation)
  • The applications for leave to appeal are granted with costs in the cause. Both appeals will be heard together as a single appeal. The hearing of the appeal is to be expedited and the schedule for serving and filing materials will be set by the Registrar.
• [DEFAMATION] Saul Rabinowitz et al. v. Ronald Rutman (Ont.) (Civil) (By Leave)
  • The application for leave to appeal is dismissed with costs.

Google

• How we’re helping journalists prepare for upcoming elections

Twitter

• The Twitter Rules: A Living Document

Facebook

• Shining a Brighter Light on Facebook Pages
• Hard Questions: Where Do We Draw the Line on Free Expression?
• Hard Questions: The Line Between Hate and Debate
• Facebook awards more than $800,000 in ‘Secure the Internet’ grants
• People Can Now Find Mentors and Mentees in Groups

Upcoming Events

Senate of Canada

• No fixed and possible Senate sitting days this week; Senate reconvenes on September 18, 2018

Canadian House of Commons

• No fixed House of Commons sitting days this week; House reconvenes on September 17, 2018

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

• National Digital and Data Consultations

Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat

• Creating Canada’s 4^th Plan on Open Government 2018-20 Deadline: Aug. 13 2018

CRTC

• Anticipated Releases for the week of 13 to 17 August 2018
  • Broadcasting Decisions
    • Applications by various licensees to renew the broadcasting licenses for various radio stations
    • Decision relating to the following application considered under the Commission’s Part 1 process:
      • Sher-E-Punjab Radio Broadcasting Inc.
        • Vancouver, British Columbia
        • Ethnic commercial AM radio station – Technical changes
        • Public record for this application: 2017-1177-1
      • Decision relating to the following application considered by the Commission at the 12 July 2018 public hearing:
        • Eternacom Inc., on behalf of Harvest Ministries Sudbury
          • Elliot Lake, North Bay and Sudbury, Ontario
          • CJTK-FM Sudbury, CJTK-FM-1 North Bay, CJTK-FM-3 elliot Lake and their transmitters – Acquisition of assets
          • Public record for this application: 2017-0878-6
• CRTC Open Broadcasting Proceedings
• CRTC Open Telecom Proceedings