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Faculty of Humanities

Communications Governance Observatory

Newsletter: April 28, 2020

 

Weekly News (April 28, 2020)
Compiled by Fizza Kulvi with Sara Bannerman McMaster University, Communications Governance Observatory 



(April 21 – April 27, 2020)

Canadian News

· [CYBERSECURITY / INTERNET GOVERNANCE] Free online ‘threat blocker’ launched in Canada as successful COVID-19 scams multiply (CBC)
· [PRIVACY] COVID-19 database ‘extraordinary’ privacy invasion: civil liberties group (The Star)
· [BROADCASTING POLICY] Liberal changed to media aid plan hint at speedier spending, industry group says (The Star)
· [BROADCASTING POLICY] CBC accused by Quebecor of ‘disgracefully and unscrupulously’ exploiting COVID-19 crisis (National Post)
· [PRIVACY] Think tank slams Ottawa over silence on Beijing attempt to ‘interfere’ with free speech (The Star)
· [CULTURAL FUNDING] CBC/Radio-Canada, Canada Council announce Digital Originals funding (CBC)
· [PLATFORM REGULATION / COPYRIGHT] OPINION: Speer: Google and Facebook should compensate news outlets. The devil is in the details as to how (National Post)
· [PRIVACY] OPINION: Bailey et al: Children’s privacy is at risk with rapid shifts to online schooling (The Conversation)
· [TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY] OPINION: Menzies: Don’t mess with the internet – especially at a time when we need it more than ever (National Post)
· [INTERNET POLICY] OPINION: Moreau: Lack of high-speed internet is harming rural areas during pandemic (The Star)
· [PRIVACY] OPINION: Sears: Public health vs. personal privacy (The Star)

International News

· [PLATFORM REGULATION] Australia moves to force Google and Facebook to compensate media outlets (NYT)
· [PLATFORM REGULATION] Tech giants are profiting – and getting more powerful – even as the global economy tanks (Washington Post)
· [TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY] FCC signals likely revocation of four Chinese Telecom Firms’ Licenses (WSJ)
· [PLATFORM REGULATION] Facebook’s $5 billion privacy settlement wins court approval (WSJ)
· [CYBERSECURITY] The Cybersecurity 202: There’s finally a Supreme Court battle coming over the nation’s main hacking law  (Washington Post)
· [COPYRIGHT] Coronavirus lockdowns leads to surge in digital piracy (WSJ)
· [CYBERSECURITY] The Cybersecurity 202: Coronavirus has sparked a global war between scammers and defenders (Washington Post)
· [CYBERSECURITY] Zoom’s Security Woes Were No Secret to Its Business Partners (NYT)
· [INTERNET POLICY] Pandemic builds momentum for broadband infrastructure upgrade (WSJ)
· [PRIVACY] Digital contact tracing will fail unless privacy is respected, experts warn (The Guardian)
· [PLATFORM GOVERNANCE) OPINION: Molter, DiResta, and Stamos: As Chinese propaganda on covid-19 grows, US social media must act (Washington Post) 



(April 21 – April 27, 2020)

Canadian Heritage
· Minister Guilbeault to participate in UNESCO’s first virtual Ministers of Culture meeting

Supreme Court of Canada
· Judgements to be rendered in leave applications: The Supreme Court of Canada announced today that judgment in the following leave applications will be delivered at 9:45 a.m. EDT on Thursday, April 30, 2020. This list is subject to change.   
[TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY] Videotron Ltd., Telus Communications Inc., Rogers Communications Canada Inc., Bell Canada, Cogeco Connexion Inc. v. Ville de Gatineau, Ville de Terrebonne, Attorney General of Quebec (38758)

Google
· Respecting rights: Global Network Initiative assessment report 

Microsoft 
· Microsoft releases biannual digital trust reports
· Closing the data divide: the need for open data 

Facebook 
· Keeping People Safe and Informed About the Coronavirus 

CRTC 
News Releases: 
· Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2020-133
[2020-04-24 11:00AM]
APPROVED – 9015-2018 Québec inc. – Montréal and Saint-Léonard, Quebec – Mennonite Community Services of Southern Ontario – Aylmer, Ontario – Applications to renew the broadcasting licenses for the ethnic radio stations listed in the decision
· Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2020-132
[2020-04-24 11:00AM]
APPROVED – Various licensees – Various locations in Manitoba, Ontario and New Brunswick – Applications to renew the broadcasting licences for the English-language commercial specialty (Christian music) radio stations listed in the decision   



Senate of Canada
· Adjourned until June 2, 2020

Canadian House of Commons
· Adjourned until April 29, 2020

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.

Anticipated releases for the week of April 27 to May 1
· Broadcasting Decision:  
Leclerc Communication inc.
CJPX-FM Montréal – Acquisition of assets and licence amendments
Public record for this application: 2019-0952-4

Open Public Consultations:
· Broadband Fund – Second call for applications (Revised deadline: 1 June 2020 PST)

Upcoming Public Hearings:
· CRTC Open Broadcasting Proceedings
· CRTC Open Telecom Proceedings

Open Public Consultations
· Increasing High-Speed Broadband: Stakeholder and Partner Engagement (June 1, 2019 to June 20, 2020)
· Renewal of CBC’s licences (closed; Next step: Public hearing on May 25, 2020)
· 2019-217 Co-development of a new Indigenous Broadcasting Policy (closed; Next step: Preliminary conclusions and determinations) 

Have a suggestion? Email Sara Bannerman at banners@mcmaster.ca
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