Weekly News (July 18, 2023)

Compiled by Brad McNeil and Manveetha Muddaluru with Sara Bannerman

McMaster University, Communications Governance Observatory

(July 11 – July 17, 2023)

Canadian News 

• [DATA PRIVACY] Supreme Court won’t examine sharing of Canadian bank account info with U.S. (Globe and Mail)
• [ONLINE NEWS ACT] Some Canadian news outlets already seeing content blocked on Instagram (Toronto Star)
• [ONLINE NEWS ACT] Most Canadians concerned about losing access to news because of Bill C-18: survey (CTV News)
• [ONLINE NEWS ACT] Canadian news media caught in crossfire between feds and tech giants (Penticton Herald)
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] Google leaves Canada out of AI chatbot launch (National Post)
• [DATA PRIVACY/PLATFORM REGULATION] Revealed: Intelligence warned that TikTok gave governments ‘false’ reassurances about its data collection (Toronto Star)
• [INTERNET POLICY] Ottawa is warned unilateral digital services tax on tech giants could trigger U.S. retaliation (Globe and Mail)
• [MEDIA OWNERSHIP] Two former Rogers execs sue for wrongful dismissal after Shaw takeover (Globe and Mail)
• [PUBLIC BROADCASTING] Canadian police, emergency agencies consider adopting Meta’s Threads (Toronto Star)
• [PRIVACY] Privacy Act allows disclosure for inmate transfers, Mendicino said it restricts them (National Post)
• [PRIVACY] What experts say about the expectation of privacy after Jonah Hill’s texts released (National Post)
• [DATA PRIVACY] Threads collects so much sensitive information it’s a ‘hacker’s dream,’ experts say (Global News)
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] B.C. film unions to vote on contract some fear will lead to AI replacing actors throughout the sector (Globe and Mail)
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] How artificial intelligence can help detect and fight wildfires in Canada (Globe and Mail)
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] Airbnb’s operations head says hosting still isn’t mainstream. Here’s how the company is rolling out the welcome mat (Toronto Star)
• [COPYRIGHT] Book-licensing group to downsize without copyright reform, threatening Canadian author royalty streams (Globe and Mail)
• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] Jann Arden speaks out against Alberta Premier after ‘straight pride’ photo controversy (Toronto Star)
• [ONLINE NEWS ACT] OPINION: Vass Bednar: News media produce the news, Meta and Google distribute it (Toronto Star)
• [ONLINE NEWS ACT] OPINION: Star Editorial Board: Ottawa moves to resolve C-18 showdown over journalism support (Toronto Star)
• [ONLINE NEWS ACT] OPINION: Rod Sims: News media content is essential for Meta and Google platforms (Toronto Star)
• [ONLINE NEWS ACT] OPINION: Diane Francis: Google, Facebook and the apologists for Big Tech bully tactics (Financial Post)
• [ONLINE NEWS ACT] OPINION: Derek Wilding: Despite Google warnings, the Online News Act won’t break the web (Toronto Star)
• [ONLINE NEWS ACT] OPINION: The Editorial Board: There are better ways for a government to help journalism (Globe and Mail)
• [ONLINE NEWS ACT] OPINION: Mark Sherman: Canadian identity at stake in news media’s battle with Big Tech (National Post)
• [ONLINE NEWS ACT] OPINION: Jen Gerson: If Canada really is at war with Big Tech, we aren’t covering ourselves in glory (Globe and Mail)
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] OPINION: Marcel O’Gorman: At the heart of artificial intelligence is racism and colonialism that we must excise (Globe and Mail)
• [COMPETITION] OPINION: Garros Gong: Increasing monopoly power poses a threat to Canada’s post-pandemic economic recovery (The Conversation)
• [COPYRIGHT] OPINION: Hugh Stephens: Why we need copyright reform now (Globe and Mail)

International News

• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] UN Security Council to hold first talks on AI risks (Reuters News)
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] China announces rules to keep AI bound by country’s ‘core socialist values’ (Washington Post)
• [PRIVACY/PLATFORM REGULATION] Meta faces $100K daily fine from Norway regulator over privacy concerns (Financial Post)
• [TELECOMMUNICATIONS] Lawmakers Demand Telecom Firms Act on Toxic Lead Cables After WSJ Investigation (Wall Street Journal)
• [PLATFORM REGULATION] Republicans attack FTC chair and big tech critic Lina Khan at House hearing (The Guardian)
• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] Firing of gay Catholic school teacher could test latest Supreme Court ruling (Washington Post) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] ChatGPT-maker OpenAI signs deal with AP to license news stories (AP News)
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] AI could worsen epidemic of child sexual abuse, warns UK crime agency (The Guardian)
• [TECH INDUSTRY DIVERSITY] CIOs Say Affirmative Action Ruling Could Set Back Progress in Tech Diversity (Wall Street Journal)
• [DATA PRIVACY] 3 tax prep firms shared ‘extraordinarily sensitive’ data about taxpayers with Meta, U.S. lawmakers say (CTV News)
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] Google’s Bard AI Chatbot Adds More Languages to Take On ChatGPT (Wall Street Journal)
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] The Next Challengers Joining Nvidia in the AI Chip Revolution (Wall Street Journal)
• [MEDIA OWNERSHIP/COMPETITION] Activision Win Is Big for Microsoft—Smaller for Big Tech (Wall Street Journal)
• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] The man who threatened to burn holy books outside the Israeli Embassy in Sweden abandons the plan (AP News)
• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] Afghan Taliban suspend all activities of Swedish aid groups over burning of Islam’s holy book (Washington Post)
• [CENSORSHIP] Former teen performers accuse an agent of sexual assault. They’re hoping it’s Japan’s #MeToo moment (AP News)
• [DEFAMATION] A former Trump supporter who got caught up in a January 6 conspiracy theory sues Fox News (AP News)
• [DEFAMATION] Trump lashes out after Justice Department no longer says presidency shields him from defamation suit (Toronto Star)
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] FTC investigates OpenAI over data leak and ChatGPT’s inaccuracy (Washington Post)
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] In NYC, companies will have to prove their AI hiring software isn’t sexist or racist (NBC News)
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] Elon Musk launches AI startup and warns of a ‘Terminator future’ (The Guardian)
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] Inside the White-Hot Center of A.I. Doomerism (New York Times)
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] The Black Mirror plot about AI that worries actors (BBC News) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] ‘Those who hate AI are insecure’: inside Hollywood’s battle over artificial intelligence (The Guardian)
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] Fake reviews: can we trust what we read online as use of AI explodes? (The Guardian)
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] Notified Files Patent for Smart Press Releases; Underscores Commitment to Artificial Intelligence in Public Relations (Financial Post)
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] AI Junk Is Starting to Pollute the Internet (Wall Street Journal)
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] OPINION: The Editorial Board: Profit-sharing and AI protection are answers to Hollywood strike (Chicago Tribune)
• [PLATFORM REGULATION/FREEDOM OF SPEECH] OPINION: Kate Klonick: The Future of Online Speech Shouldn’t Belong to One Trump-Appointed Judge in Louisiana (New York Times)
• [PLATFORM REGULATION] OPINION: Julia Angwin: The Gatekeepers of Knowledge Don’t Want Us to See What They Know (New York Times)

(July 11  – July 17, 2023)

Supreme Court of Canada 

• The Supreme Court of Canada has today deposited with the Registrar judgments in the following leave applications:
  • [PRIVACY] Alina Owsianik v. Equifax Canada Co. and Equifax, Inc. (Ont.) (Civil) (By Leave)  (40577) The application for leave to appeal from the judgment of the Court of Appeal for Ontario, Number C69995, 2022 ONCA 813, dated November 25, 2022, is dismissed with costs.
  • [PRIVACY] Dione Setoguchi v. Uber B.V., Raiser Operations B.V., Uber Canada Inc. and Uber Technologies, Inc. (Alta.) (Civil) (By Leave) (40681)  The application for leave to appeal from the judgment of the Court of Appeal of Alberta (Calgary), Number 2101-0025AC, 2023 ABCA 45, dated February 7, 2023, is dismissed with costs.
  • [PRIVACY] Michael Obodo v. Trans Union of Canada, Inc. (Ont.) (Civil) (By Leave) (40555) The application for leave to appeal from the judgment of the Court of Appeal for Ontario, Number C69989, 2022 ONCA 814, dated November 25, 2022, is dismissed with costs.
  • [PRIVACY] Glenn Winder v. Marriott International, Inc., Luxury Hotels International of Canada, ULC and Starwood Canada ULC (Ont.) (Civil) (By Leave) (40573 ) The application for leave to appeal from the judgment of the Court of Appeal for Ontario, Number C70286, 2022 ONCA 815, dated November 25, 2022, is dismissed with costs.

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission 

• Décision de radiodiffusion 2023-209 [2023-07-17 11:00:00]
  Walsh Investments Inc. et Yorkton Broadcasting Company Limited, associés dans une société en nom collectif faisant affaire sous le nom de GX Radio Partnership – Yorkton (Saskatchewan) – Demande en vue de modifier le périmètre de rayonnement autorisé de la station de radio AM commerciale de langue anglaise CJGX Yorkton
• Broadcasting decision 2023-209 [2023-07-17 11:00:00]
  Walsh Investments Inc. and Yorkton Broadcasting Company Limited, partners in a general partnership carrying on business as GX Radio Partnership – Yorkton, Saskatchewan – Application to change the authorized contours of the English-language commercial AM radio station CJGX Yorkton
• Telecom order 2023-208 [2023-07-14 11:00:00]
  Streamlined order – The Commission approves on an interim basis the following tariff application: Bell Canada, TN 7672
• Telecom order 2023-207 [2023-07-13 11:00:00]
  Streamlined order – The Commission approves on an interim basis the following tariff applications: DMTS, a division of Bell Canada, TN 88, KMTS, a division of Bell Canada, TN 99 and Télébec, Société en commandite, TN 545
• Broadcasting notice of consultation 2023-206 [2023-07-13 11:00:00]
  Notice of hearing – 14 September 2023 – National Capital Region – Deadline for submission of interventions/comments/answers: 14 August 2023
• Telecom order 2023-205 [2023-07-13 11:00:00]
  Streamlined order – The Commission approves on an interim basis the following tariff applications: Bell Aliant Regional Communications, Limited Partnership, TN 573 and Bell MTS Inc., TN 856
• Broadcasting decision 2023-204 [2023-07-12 11:00:00]
  Chetwynd Communications Society – Chetwynd and Dawson Creek, British Columbia – Application to renew the broadcasting licence for the English-language community radio station CHET-FM Chetwynd
• Broadcasting decision 2023-203 [2023-07-11 11:00:00]
  Northern Lights Entertainment Inc. – Iqaluit, Nunavut – Application to renew the broadcasting licence for the predominantly English-language commercial radio station CKIQ-FM Iqaluit
• Broadcasting decision 2023-202 [2023-07-11 11:00:00]
  Northern Lights Entertainment Inc. – Iqaluit, Nunavut – Application to renew the broadcasting licence for the predominantly English-language commercial radio station CKGC-FM Iqaluit
• Broadcasting decision 2023-201 [2023-07-11 11:00:00]
  Media ClassiQ Inc. – Québec, Quebec – Application to renew the broadcasting licence for the French-language commercial specialty radio station CJSQ-FM Québec

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

• Governments of Canada and Ontario invest $54 million to bring high-speed Internet access to more than 20,000 homes 
• Governments of Canada and Alberta invest over $96 million to bring high-speed Internet access to more than 10,000 homes  

Senate of Canada

• Planned and Possible Sitting Days: The Senate will not sit during the week of July 17 to 21, 2023. The Senate is adjourned until September 19, 2023.

House of Commons

• Planned and Possible Sitting Days: the House of Commons will not sit during the week of July 17 to 21, 2023. The House is adjourned until Monday, September 18, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. (EDT). 

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

• Anticipated releases for the week of 17 to 21 July 2023
  • Broadcasting Decisions:
    • Applications by various licensees to renew the broadcasting licences for various radio and television stations
    • Various licensees across Canada
    • Various television programming services and networks, and broadcasting distribution undertakings – Administrative renewals
• CRTC Open Broadcasting Proceedings
  • Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2023-138: The Path Forward: Deadline for submission of interventions: July 11, 2023; replies: July 26, 2023 (notice of revised deadlines)
• CRTC Open Telecom Proceedings
  • Share your comments on the review of the Broadband fund (start date March 23, 2023 to July 21, 2023); Deadline for submission of interventions: 21 July 2023

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