Newsletter: September 10, 2019

Weekly News (September 10, 2019)

Compiled by Ian Steinberg and Kim Payne with Sara Bannerman

McMaster University, Communications Governance Observatory

 

Communications Governance Observatory Podcast

Podcast Episode 8: Platform Regulation Part 1 with Dr. Tamara Shepherd (17 min)

Podcast Episode 9: Platform Regulation Part 2 with Dr. Tamara Shepherd (17 min)

 

 

Canadian News (September 3-10, 2019)

·         [COMPETITION; PLATFORM REGULATION] The Competition Bureau’s examination of possible anti-competitive practices by digital giants like Facebook and Google (The Star)

·         [PRIVACY] Cybersecurity breaches should put financial professionals on alert(Globe and Mail)

 

International News (September 3-10, 2019)

·         [PLATFORM REGULATION] YouTube agrees to $170 million fine, new protections for children (WSJ)

·         [PRIVACY] Use of facial recognition approved for British police (NYT)

·         [PRIVACY] Businesses across the board scramble to comply with California data-privacy law (WSJ)

·         [CYBERSECURITY] An artificial-intelligence first: Voice-mimicking software reportedly used in major theft (Washington Post)

·         [PRIVACY] These apps may have told Facebook about the last time you had sex (Washington Post)

 

(September 3-10, 2019)

Canadian Heritage

Canadian Intellectual Property Office

CRTC

 

News Releases:

·         Ontario Consumers Home Services and Blue Dream must pay $260,000 in penalties for their telemarketing activities

·         Telecom decision 2019-316
[2019-09-06 11:00:00]
City of Gatineau – Terms and conditions of a municipal access agreement with certain carriers – Public record: 8690-V81-201703231

·         Broadcasting information bulletin 2019-315
[2019-09-05 11:00:00]
Notification of the Broadcasting Arbitrator

·         Broadcasting decision 2019-314
[2019-09-04 11:00:00]
APPROVED – Harvest Ministries Sudbury – Sudbury and Kapuskasing, Ontario – Application to amend the broadcasting licence for the English-language commercial specialty (Christian music) radio station CJTK-FM Sudbury to add an FM rebroadcasting transmitter in Kapuskasing

·         Broadcasting decision 2019-313
[2019-09-04 11:00:00]
APPROVED – Bell Canada – Across Canada – Application to add the non-Canadian service Zhejiang International Channel to the List of non-Canadian programming services and stations authorized for distribution

·         Broadcasting decision 2019-312
[2019-09-04 11:00:00]
APPROVED – Bell Canada – Across Canada – Application to add the non-Canadian service Great Wall Elite to the List of non-Canadian programming services and stations authorized for distribution

Competition Bureau Canada

·         Competition Bureau calls for businesses to report potentially anti-competitive conduct in the digital economy

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

·         Canadians in Eastern Ontario to benefit from faster Internet

·         Canadians in northern Alberta to benefit from faster Internet

·         Government of Canada and Government of Quebec announce the creation of an international centre of expertise in Montreal for the advancement of artificial intelligence 

·         Government of Canada announces new Accessible Technology Program funding recipients

·         Accessible Technology Program project breakdown

·         Government of Canada announces new recipients under second phase of CanCode Program

·         CanCode program: Project breakdown

Apple

·         APPLE STATEMENT: A message about iOS security

Facebook

·         An Update About Face Recognition on Facebook

·         Charting a Way Forward on Privacy and Data Portability

·         Understanding Updates to Your Device’s Location Settings

Microsoft

·         Guidelines by the European Banking Authority: Supporting modern technology policy for the financial services industry

·         A shift in perspective: Taking a new view on water security through technology

YouTube

·         An update on kids and data protection on YouTube

 

Senate of Canada

·         No fixed and possible Senate sitting days this week; Senate reconvenes on September 17, 2019

Canadian House of Commons

·         No fixed and possible House of Commons sitting days this week; House reconvenes on September 16, 2019

Copyright Board of Canada

Upcoming hearings:

·         SOCAN Tariff 24 – Ringtones and Ringbacks (2014-2018)
Hearing: Tuesday, September 22, 2020, at 10:00 a.m., Copyright Board hearing room.
Schedule of Proceedings;
Directive on Procedure

·         Non-Commercial Radio
[CMRRA: 2003-2010; CSI: 2011-2018; Re:Sound: 2013-2018]
Hearing: Tuesday, October 27, 2020, at 10:00 a.m., Copyright Board hearing room.
Schedule of Proceedings;
Directive on Procedure

·         Background Music
[SOCAN: 2012-2018; Re:Sound: 2014-2018]
Hearing: Tuesday, December 8, 2020, at 10:00 a.m., Copyright Board hearing room.
Schedule of Proceedings;
Directive on Procedure

Innovation, Science and Economic Development

·         Consultation on a Policy and Licensing Framework for Spectrum in the 3500 MHz Band

CRTC

The CRTC plans to issue the following decisions, regulatory policies and reports in the coming week. This list may be incomplete and is subject to change without notice.

·         Compliance and Enforcement Decisions: Violations of the Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules

 

Upcoming Public Hearings:

·         November 5, 2019 – Gatineau, Quebec
To consider the broadcasting applications listed in Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2019-303
View hearing documents (2019-303)

 

·         CRTC Open Broadcasting Proceedings

·         CRTC Open Telecom Proceedings