Newsletter: August 24, 2021

Weekly News (August 24th, 2021)

Compiled by Emmanuel Appiah, Meaghan Wester, and Nick Gertlerwith Sara Bannerman, Fenwick McKelvey, Guillaume Dandurand, Marek Blottière, and Kevin Morin

McMaster University, Communications Governance Observatory

The Communications Governance Discussion Group meets every few weeks by Zoom.  Email organizer Derek Hrynyshyn <derekh@yorku.ca> for details.

(August 17-23, 2021)

Canadian News

• [PLATFORM GOVERNANCE/POLITICAL CONTENT] Facebook draws fire over plan to reduce political content (CBC News)
• [PLATFORM GOVERNANCE/MISINFORMATION] Trudeau defends tweet after Twitter labels Liberal attack video ‘manipulated media’ (The Globe and Mail)
• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION/ HATE SPEECH] OPINION: MARIE-CLAUDE GIRARD, Discours haineux et médias sociaux: L’exception religieuse doit être abrogée (LaPresse)
• [PRIVACY]Vos données à risque sur le passeport vaccinal (Journal de Montréal)
• [TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY] Péladeau dénonce la demande de Bell d’écarter Québecor du sans-fil canadien (Le Devoir)
• [INTERNET REGULATION] Quebec City top performer on internet speed tests(National Post) (McMaster; York)
• [INTERNET REGULATION] Test results show many users don’t have access to minimum speeds needed for everyday internet use (National Post) (McMaster; York)

International News

• [ANTITRUST] U.S. takes new stab at Facebook antitrust suit (Seattle Times)
• [PLATFORM GOVERNANCE] To protect users, Facebook says it’s hiding friends lists on accounts in Afghanistan. (New York Times) (McMaster; York)
• [CENSORSHIP] Crackdown on social media (Toronto Star) (McMaster; York)
• [PLATFORM REGULATION] Nigeria expects to lift Twitter ban by end of year, minister says (Reuters) (McMaster; York)
• [PERSONAL DATA/PLATFORM REGULATION] As misinformation flows, Facebook tightens grip on data (Washington Post) (McMaster; York)
• [COPYRIGHT] Apple appeals against security research firm while touting researchers(Reuters via Financial Post) (McMaster; York)
• [COPYRIGHT] Denmark Now has Two Little Mermaids. The Famous One is Suing.(New York Times) (McMaster; York)
• [PRIVACY/DATA PROTECTION] New Chinese law tightens control over company data on users (Associated Press News) (McMaster; York)
• [DATA BREACH] T-Mobile Faces Regulatory Scrutiny After Hack (Wall Street Journal) (McMaster; York)
• [AI REGULATION] Opinion: We’re nowhere near the ‘autopilot’ car utopia we’ve imagined (Washington Post) (McMaster; York)
• [PRIVACY] Company Data Hoards Create Tempting Targets for Hackers (Wall Street Journal) (McMaster; York)
• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION/ACADEMIC FREEDOM] Historians need not apologize, court rules (Ottawa Citizen) (McMaster; York)
• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION/ACADEMIC FREEDOM] Professor’s ‘Comfort-Women’ Lecture Gets Him Indicted—And Sparks Debate on Academic Freedom (Wall Street Journal) (McMaster; York)
• [CENSORSHIP] Officials tear out yearbook pages, prompt censorship claims (Toronto Star) (McMaster; York)

(August 17-23, 2021)

Copyright Board Canada

• Approved Tariffs – SOCAN Tariff 11.B – Comedy Shows and Magic Shows (2018-2022) by August 21, 2021

CRTC

News Releases:

• Broadcasting decision 2021-293
  [2021-08-19 11:00:00]
  APPROVED – Canadian Broadcasting Corporation – Sudbury and Elliot Lake, Ontario – Application to change the authorized contours of CBON-FM-5 Elliot Lake, Ontario, a rebroadcasting transmitter of the French-language radio station CBON-FM Sudbury, Ontario
• Broadcasting decision 2021-292
  [2021-08-19 11:00:00]
  APPROVED – Canadian Broadcasting Corporation – Sudbury and Elliot Lake, Ontario – Application to change the authorized contours of CBEC-FM Elliot Lake, Ontario (Radio One), a rebroadcasting transmitter of the English-language radio station CBCS-FM Sudbury, Ontario
• Broadcasting decision 2021-291
  [2021-08-18 11:00:00]
  RENEWED – Hope FM Ministries Limited – Truro, Nova Scotia – Renewal of the broadcasting licence for the specialty (Christian music) radio station CINU-FM Truro from 1 September 2021 to 31 August 2028.
• Broadcasting decision 2021-290
  [2021-08-18 11:00:00]
  RENEWED – Radio Diffusion Sorel-Tracy inc. – Sorel-Tracy, Quebec – Renewal of the broadcasting licence for the French-language commercial radio station CJSO-FM Sorel-Tracy from 1 September 2021 to 31 August 2028.
• Broadcasting information bulletin 2021-289
  [2021-08-17 11:00:00]
  Guidelines for all licensees of broadcasting undertakings serving Canada – Federal general election
• Telecom decision 2021-288
  [2021-08-16 11:00:00]
  Revised Procedures for the Operation of the National Contribution Fund, effective 16 August 2021 – Public record: 8695-C211-202101690

Senate of Canada 

• Planned & Possible sitting days this week: The Senate is not sitting today.

Canadian House of Commons 

• Planned & Possible sitting days this week, with possible extension of sitting hours: The House of Commons is not sitting today. The 43rd Parliament was dissolved on Sunday, August 15, 2021.

CRTC  

Open Proceedings 

• CRTC Open Broadcasting Proceedings 

• CRTC Open Telecom Proceedings

Regulatory Policies 

Broadcasting  

• 2021-215 – The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Accessibility Reporting Regulations – Public record: 1011-NOC2020-0124 and 1011-NOC2021-069 

Telecommunications 

• 2021-215 – The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Accessibility Reporting Regulations – Public record: 1011-NOC2020-0124 and 1011-NOC2021-069 

Anticipated releases for the week of August 16-20, 2021 

The CRTC is not planning on issuing any decisions, regulatory policies and reports in the coming week. This is subject to change without notice.

 Public Hearings 

• To consider the broadcasting applications listed in Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2021-218 (View hearing documents (2021-218)  (September 9, 2021) 

Open Public Consultations:

• Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission: Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2021-281 (Rogers-Shaw merger) (Submission deadline: Sept 13, 2021; Hearing: Nov 22, 2021)
• Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission: Call for comments – Introduction of a three-digit abbreviated dialing code for mental health crisis and suicide prevention services (June 3- Sept 1, 2021)
• Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission: Call for comments – Accessibility – Mobile wireless service plans that meet the needs of Canadians with various disabilities (deadline: August 27, 2021)
• Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada: Consultation on a Modern Copyright Framework for AI and IoT (July 16-September 17, 2021)
• Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada: Consultation on Amending Cellular and Personal Communications Services (PCS) Licence Conditions (July 30, 2021 – September 28, 2021)