Newsletter: February 9, 2021
Weekly News (February 9, 2021)
Compiled by Emmanuel Appiah with Sara Bannerman and Meaghan WesterMcMaster University, Communications Governance Observatory
This week’s newsletter includes, for some stories, links to articles made available through Factiva via McMaster and York respectively. It also includes, for the first time, French-language stories, thanks to Meaghan Wester and Fenwick McKelvey’s team at Concordia.
The Communications Governance Discussion Group meets every few weeks by Zoom. Email organizer Derek Hrynyshyn <derekh@yorku.ca> for details.
(February 2-8, 2021)
Canadian News
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[PLATFORM REGULATION] Regulating our new ‘essential services’ (Toronto Star; Fulltext via factiva: McMaster; York
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[PLATFORM REGULATION] « Fin de la récréation pour les géants du web» (LaPresse)
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[FACIAL RECOGNITION/PRIVACY] Clearview AI engaged in illegal ‘mass surveillance’ of Canadians, probe finds (Toronto Star/National Observer; Fulltext via factiva: McMaster; York)
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[PRIVACY/PLATFORM REGULATION] «La reconnaissance faciale de Clearview AI Jugée “illégale” » (Journal de Québec)
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[PLATFORM REGULATION] «Pornographie juvénile: MindGeek se défend en comité fédéral» (Le Devoir)
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[PLATFORM GOVERNANCE] Pornhub releases new ‘industry-leading’ strategies to clean up its act and promote ‘safety’ (National Post)
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[PLATFORM GOVERNANCE] Woman testifies Pornhub hassled her over removal of underage video (The Globe and Mail)
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[ALGORITHMIC GOVERNANCE] National Defence skirted federal rules in using artificial intelligence, privacy commissioner says (Globe and Mail; Fulltext via factiva: McMaster; York)
- [TELECOM REGULATION] Why decisions to keep shareholders on a pedestal might backfire for the Big 3 telcos this time (Financial Post)
- [MEDIA GOVERNANCE] «Avec 122 millions d’aide, Bell licencie en anglais et embauche en français» (Le Devoir)
- [PLATFORM GOVERNANCE] «Incapable d’obtenir du service en français auprès de Netflix» (Journal de Montréal)
- [PRIVACY] CRA releases wage subsidy claimants, not amounts, after privacy change (Globe and Mail; Fulltext via factiva: McMaster; York)
- [INTERNET POLICY]«Internet haute vitesse 15 000 foyers branchés par mois, promet Québec» (LaPresse)
- [INTERNET POLICY] Toronto public internet network planned (The Toronto Star; Fulltext via factiva: McMaster; York)
- [PRIVACY/CYBERSECURITY] Canada’s visa application centre in Beijing run by Chinese police (Globe and Mail; Fulltext via factiva: McMaster; York)
- [NEWS MEDIA] OPINION: Note to Readers: Our disappearing headlines (Toronto Star)
- [PRIVACY LAW] OPINION: Bernier & Medhora: Despite best intentions, Bill C-11 misses the mark on fostering innovation in Canada (The Globe and Mail)
- [PLATFORM REGULATION] OPINION: Winseck: Tech war could turn back time for all (The Toronto Star)
- [PLATFORM REGULATION] OPINION: Alang: Reaching end of the Wild West internet (Toronto Star)
- [PLATFORM REGULATION] «OPINION: Trudel: Plateformes en lignes: réguler sans censurer » (Le Devoir)
- [PLATFORM REGULATION/FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] «OPINION: Tassé: Ottawa vers la censure?» (Journal de Montréal)
- [PLATFORM REGULATION/FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] «OPINION: Maclure: Qui a peur de la diversité d’opinions ?» (LaPresse)
- [PATENTS] OPINION: Walkom: Compulsory licensing allows Ottawa to OK generic vaccines (The Toronto Star; Fulltext via factiva: McMaster; York)
- [ALGORITHMIC GOVERNANCE] «OPINION: Castonguay: Point de vue: les hommes en complet, les femmes en bikini»(Le Devoir)
International News
- [NET NEUTRALITY] U.S. Drops Challenge to California’s Net-Neutrality Law (The Wall Street Journal; Fulltext via factiva: McMaster; York
- [ANTICOMPETITION] China issues new anti-monopoly rules targeting its tech giants (Financial Post)
- [CENSORSHIP/PROTEST] Internet access restored as Myanmar coup protests grow (Associated Press via CTV News)
- [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION/PLATFORM REGULATION] Florida lawmakers challenge Silicon Valley over ‘censorship’ (Tampa Bay Times; Fulltext via factiva: McMaster; York)
- [BROADCAST REGULATION] UK strips Chinese state-owned TV channel of broadcast permit (Associated Press via CTV News; Fulltext via factiva: McMaster; York)
- [COVID APP/PRIVACY] Singapore to limit police access to COVID-19 contact-tracing data (Reuters; Fulltext via factiva: McMaster; York)
- [PRIVACY LAW] Virginia Lawmakers Poised to Pass New Rules for Internet Privacy (Wall Street Journal; Fulltext via factiva: McMaster; York)
- [TELECOMMUNICATIONS REGULATION] U.S. states ask FCC to scrutinize Verizon’s plan to buy Tracfone (Reuters; Fulltext via factiva: McMaster; York)
- [PLATFORM REGULATION] China Appears to Block Social-Media Platform Clubhouse After Brief Flourishing of Debate (The Wall Street Journal; Fulltext via factiva: McMaster; York)
- [FREEDOM OF THE PRESS] Human rights body calls on El Salvador to protect reporters (Associated Press; Fulltext via factiva: McMaster; York)
- [INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY/TRADE SECRET] Court Ruling Reflects Latest Pressure on AI Trade Secrets (Wall Street Journal; Fulltext via factiva: McMaster; York)
- [DEFAMATION] Prince Harry wins ‘significant damages,’ gets apology in U.K. tabloid lawsuit (Reuters via Global News)
- [DEFAMATION] Voting company sues Fox, Giuliani over election fraud claims (Globe and Mail; Fulltext via factiva: McMaster; York)
- [DEFAMATION] Polish court to rule in libel case against Canadian historian of the Holocaust (Globe and Mail; Fulltext via factiva: McMaster; York)
- [TRADEMARK/COPYRIGHT] Utah theme park sues Taylor Swift over ‘Evermore’ album (Similar story available at the Guardian; Fulltext via factiva: McMaster; York)
- [US-CHINA RELATIONS] U.S. examines Telus’ Chinese connections in review of subsidiary’s deal for American tech firm (The Globe and Mail)
- [PLATFORM GOVERNANCE/UNION] Amazon intensifies ‘severe’ effort to discourage first-ever US warehouse union (The Guardian)
- [PLATFORM GOVERNANCE/PRIVACY] Google exploring Android privacy feature (Bloomberg News; Fulltext via factiva: McMaster; York)
- [PLATFORM GOVERNANCE/NEWS] ‘You’re going to be left with the junk’: What happens when Google hides the news? (St. Catharine Standard; Fulltext via factiva: McMaster; York)
- [PRIVACY/CYBERSECURITY] «Cybersécurité: Les leçons de l’attaque “SolarWinds”» (LaPresse)
- [PLATFORM REGULATION/FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] OPINION: Pickard: The Fairness Doctrine won’t solve our problems — but it can foster needed debate (The Washington Post; Fulltext via factiva: McMaster; York)
(February 2-8, 2021)
Supreme Court of Canada
- [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] Hearing scheduled Feb 15, 2021: Mike Ward v. Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse (Que.) (Civil) (By Leave) 39041
House of Commons
- Bill C-10 – The Minister of Canadian Heritage – An Act to amend the Broadcasting Act and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts – Second reading (resuming debate)
- [ETHI] Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics: Protection of Privacy and Reputation on platforms such as Pornhub (Friday, February 5, 2021)
Canadian Intellectual Property Office
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
- CRTC Broadband Fund second call: first group of selected projects
- Over 40 underserved communities in British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Ontario to benefit from improved broadband connectivity
Competition Bureau Canada
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
- Universal Broadband Fund–supported projects will bring high-speed Internet to southwestern Ontario
- Lower North Shore now connected to improved Internet network
- Minister Monsef to announce high-speed Internet projects in Southwestern Ontario
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
- Statement by the Privacy Commissioner of Canada following an investigation into Clearview AI
- Clearview AI’s unlawful practices represented mass surveillance of Canadians, commissioners say
- Privacy protection authorities to release their findings following investigation into Clearview AI (Media Advisory)
Microsoft
CRTC
- Broadcasting decision 2021-52
[2021-02-05 11:00:00]
APPROVED – 7590474 Canada Inc. – Laval, Quebec – Application to renew the broadcasting licence for the French-language commercial radio station CJLV Laval – DENIED – Application to amend CJLV’s broadcasting licence in order to allow the station to devote up to 40% of its broadcast week to third-language programs - Broadcasting decision 2021-51
[2021-02-05 11:00:00]
APPROVED – WOW! Unlimited Networks Inc. – Across Canada – Application to revoke the broadcasting licence for the national, English-language discretionary service known as Comedy Gold - Telecom decision 2021-50
[2021-02-05 11:00:00]
Revocation of basic international telecommunications services licences - Broadcasting decision 2021-49
[2021-02-04 11:00:00]
APPROVED – TELUS Communications Inc. – Rimouski, Quebec – Application to add Rimouski, Quebec, to the regional licence for broadcasting distribution undertakings in Quebec - Telecom decision 2021-48
[2021-02-04 11:00:00]
Broadband Fund – Project funding approval for Rogers Communications Canada Inc.’s Ontario transport fibre project – Public record: 1011-NOC2019-0372 - Telecom decision 2021-47
[2021-02-04 11:00:00]
Broadband Fund – Project funding approval for Tough Country Communications Ltd.’s British Columbia transport fibre project – Public record: 1011-NOC2019-0372 - Telecom decision 2021-46
[2021-02-04 11:00:00]
Broadband Fund – Project funding approval for Columbia Basin Broadband Corporation’s British Columbia transport fibre project – Public record: 1011-NOC2019-0372 - Telecom decision 2021-45
[2021-02-04 11:00:00]
Broadband Fund – Project funding approval for BH Telecom Corp.’s Saskatchewan transport fibre project – Public record: 1011-NOC2019-0372 - Telecom decision 2021-44
[2021-02-04 11:00:00]
Broadband Fund – Project funding approval for Shaw Cablesystems G.P.’s British Columbia transport fibre project – Public record: 1011-NOC2019-0372 - Telecom decision 2021-43
[2021-02-04 11:00:00]
Broadband Fund – Second call for applications – Introductory decision regarding project funding approvals – Public record: 1011-NOC2019-0372 - Telecom order 2021-42
[2021-02-02 11:00:00]
Streamlined order – The Commission approves on an interim basis the following tariff applications: Northwestel Inc. TNs 1114, 1115 and 1116; Quadro Communications Co-Operative Inc TN 36
Senate of Canada
- Planned & Possible sitting days this week: February 8th-12th, 2021
Canadian House of Commons
- Planned & Possible sitting days this week: The House of Commons is not sitting today. The House is adjourned until Tuesday, February 16, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. (EST).
CRTC
Open Proceedings
Anticipated releases for the week of February 8-12, 2021
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.
Broadcasting Decision:
Decisions relating to the following applications considered under the Commission’s Part 1 process:
- Applications by various licensees to renew the broadcasting licences for various radio stations
- JAZZ.FM91 Inc.
CJRT-FM Toronto – Licence amendment
Public record: 2020-0146-0
Decision relating to the following application announced in Broadcasting Notice of Consultation 2020-1:
- Findings regarding market capacity and the appropriateness of issuing a call for radio applications to serve the Ajax/Pickering market
Public record: 1011-NOC2020-0001
Decision relating to the following application announced in Broadcasting Notice of Consultation 2019-384:
- Findings regarding market capacity and the appropriateness of issuing a call for radio applications to serve Salt Spring Island
Public record: 1011-NOC2019-0384
Regulatory Policies
Broadcasting
2021-3 – Revised list of non-Canadian programming services and stations authorized for distribution – Annual compilation of amendments
Public Hearings
- To consider the broadcasting application listed in Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2020-396 – View hearing documents (2020-396) (February 25, 2021)
Open Public Consultations:
- Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission: Commercial radio policy framework review (Nov 12, 2020 to March 29, 2021)
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