Newsletter: 15th February, 2022

February 17, 2022February 17, 2022 Kyle Wyndham-West

Weekly News (February 15, 2022)

Compiled by Kyle Wyndham-West, Bradley McNeil, Fizza Kulvi, Meaghan Wester, and Nick Gertler with 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.

(February 8-15, 2022)

Canadian News

· [PRIVACY] MPs back motion to halt COVID-19 phone data collection over privacy concerns (Canadian Press/Global News)

· [COMPETITION] Ottawa to launch review of competition laws, catching up to ‘today’s digital reality’ (Globe and Mail)

· [PRIVACY] Former privacy czar denounces lack of transparency over government’s phone-data haul (Toronto Star)

· [PRIVACY] Government declined offer from privacy commissioner for advice on collection of phone data (The Globe and Mail)

· [PLATFORM REGULATION] Réglementation des plateformes numériques L’expertise du CRTC mise en doute (La Presse) / CRTC lacks expertise to regulate online streaming, YouTube: experts (Prince George Citizen)

· [TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY] CRTC chairman Ian Scott defends meeting with Bell CEO at pub (Vancouver Sun)

· [CRYPTOCURRENCY] Conservative MP tables Canada’s first bill on cryptocurrency to boost sector (The Globe and Mail)

· [CYBERSECURITY/ACCESS TO INFORMATION] Canada drops on Corruption Perceptions Index, but still one of least corrupt among countries tracked (The Star)

· [PRIVACY] OPINION: EGAN Big Tech’s privacy plea a bid to access your data (The Star)

· [PRIVACY/ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] Toronto tech institute tracking long COVID with artificial intelligence, social media (The Star)

· [PRIVACY] Son wants answers after St. Joe’s staffer snoops into late mom’s hospital records (Hamilton Spectator)

· [INTERNET POLICY/PLATFORM REGULATION] Opinion: Fournier: Le temps presse, honorable Pablo! (Le Journal de Montréal)

· [PRIVACY] OPINION: KARADEGLIJA The feds should disclose tracking of COVID info (The Ottawa Citizen)

International News

· [PLATFORM GOVERNANCE] Meta again threatens to pull Facebook and Instagram from Europe (Irish Times)

· [PLATFORM REGULATION] Facebook appeal over Cambridge Analytica data rejected by Australian court as ‘divorced from reality (The Guardian)

· [PRIVACY/FREE SPEECH/PLATFORM REGULATION] A bill aiming to protect children online reignites a battle over privacy and free speech (The Washington Post)

· [PRIVACY] Inquiry finds Israeli police used spyware against three people, report says (The Guardian)

· [CYBERWAR] Russian invasion fears have Ukrainians bracing for possible cyberoffensive (The Globe and Mail)

· [PRIVACY] IRS cancels plan to use facial recognition on millions of taxpayers (The Guardian)

· [PRIVACY] The IRS directed 7 million Americans to sign up with ID.me face-scan service, according to congressional letter (The Washington Post)

· [SURVEILLANCE/TRADE SANCTIONS] Russian drones shot down over Ukraine were full of Western parts. Can the U.S. cut them off? (The Washington Post)

· [DEFAMATION] Sarah Palin’s defamation case against New York Times tossed for failing to prove paper acted with malice (National Post)

· [PLATFORM GOVERNANCE] Joe Rogan gets US$100M offer from Trump-affiliated site Rumble (CTV News)

· [PLATFORM REGULATION] OPINION: LIMA & OREMUS Why Facebook’s antitrust problem in Congress isn’t going away (The Washington Post)

(February 8 – 15, 2021)

Supreme Court of Canada

· Appeal heard: [PRIVACY/SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY] Eugene Ndhlovu v. Her Majesty the Queen (Alta.) (Criminal) (By Leave) (39360)

Government of Canada

· Federal Government declares a public order emergency under the Emergencies Act to end disruptions, blockades and the occupation of the city of Ottawa

Google

· The path forward with the Privacy Sandbox

YouTube

· A Look at 2022: Community, Collaboration, and Commerce

Microsoft

· Adapting ahead of regulation: a principled approach to app stores

Apple

· An update on AirTag and unwanted tracking

CRTC

· Broadcasting decision 2022-31
[2022-02-11 11:00:00]
TELUS Communications Inc. – Various locations across Canada – Complaint by TELUS Communications Inc. against TLN Media Group alleging undue preference and disadvantage

· Broadcasting decision 2022-30
[2022-02-10 11:00:00]
Lewis Birnberg Hanet, LLP – Across Canada – Application to add the non-Canadian service REVOLT TV to the List of non-Canadian programming services and stations authorized for distribution

· Telecom decision 2022-29
[2022-02-10 11:00:00]
Revocation of basic international telecommunications services licences

· Broadcasting and Telecom decision 2022-28
[2022-02-10 11:00:00]
When and how communications service providers must provide paper bills – Public record: 1011-NOC2020-0081

· Telecom order 2022-27
[2022-02-09 11:00:00]
Streamlined order – The Commission approves on an interim basis the following tariff application: Northwestel Inc., TN 1148

· Telecom order 2022-26
[2022-02-04 11:00:00]
Streamlined order – The Commission approves on a final basis the following tariff application: Bell Canada, TN 7641

· Telecom order 2022-25
[2022-02-04 11:00:00]
Streamlined order – The Commission approves on a final basis the following tariff applications: Bell Aliant, a division of Bell Canada, TN 556 and Bell MTS, a division of Bell Canada, TN 843

· Broadcasting decision 2022-24
[2022-02-02 11:00:00]
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation – Sept-Îles and Aguanish, Quebec – Application to amend the broadcasting license for the French-language radio station CBSI-FM Sept-Îles, in order to operate a new transmitter to rebroadcast the programming of its national network service ICI Radio-Canada Première

Senate of Canada

· Planned & Possible sitting days this week: No sitting days this week.

Canadian House of Commons

· Planned & Possible sitting days this week: The house sits all week

· Industry: February 15, 2022: Sourcing and processing critical materials

· Language: February 16, 2022: Government measure to protect and promote French in Quebec and Canada

· Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics: February 17, 2022: Collection and use of mobile data by the Government of Canada

CRTC

Anticipated releases for the week of 14 to 18 February 2022
The CRTC is not planning on issuing any decisions, regulatory policies and reports in the week of 14 to 18 February 2022. This is subject to change without notice.

Open Proceedings

· CRTC Open Broadcasting Proceedings

· CRTC Open Telecom Proceedings

Open Public Consultations

· Enabling the enforceability of the Building Broadband Faster Act Guideline (reply comments due January 17, 2022)

· Consultation about a 3-digit phone number for suicide prevention (reply comments due January 31, 2022)

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

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