Weekly Newsletter for November 7, 2023

Weekly News (November 7, 2023)

Compiled by Ian Steinberg with Sara Bannerman

McMaster University, Communications Governance Observatory

(November 1 – 7, 2023)

Canadian News 

• [TELECOM] CRTC allows smaller internet companies to sell service over telecoms’ fibre networks (Toronto Star)
• [TELECOM] Bell CEO warns internet build could slow if CRTC decisions unfavourable(Financial Post)
• [PLATFORM REGULATION] Ottawa casts a wary eye on other mobile apps after banning TikTok, WeChat (Toronto Star)
• [AI REGULATION/SAFETY] Ottawa’s plan to protect against dangers of artificial intelligence lacks teeth, critics charge (Toronto Star)
• [PRIVACY/AI] Ontario to require pay ranges in job postings, disclose if AI used to screen applicants (Globe and Mail)
• [BROADCAST] Defunding CBC would be ‘devastating’ to news in rural Canada, network president warns (National Post)
• [BROADCAST] Changes to Indigenous Language Program funding concern Inuit broadcaster (Penticton Herald)
• [PRIVACY] Victims of sexual violence say new Criminal Code changes to publication bans give them more autonomy (Globe and Mail)
• [AI REGULATION/SAFETY] Ottawa to consider setting up AI safety institute, Industry Minister Champagne say (Globe and Mail)
• [HATE SPEECH] Senators call for federal hate-crime hotline to address rising Islamophobia (Globe and Mail)
• [ELECTIONS] Inquiry into foreign interference from China, Russia is under way, Justice Hogue says (Globe and Mail)
• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] Hamilton councillors explore bylaw to regulate flyers with graphic images of fetuses (Hamilton Spectator)
• [ONLINE STREAMING ACT] Opinion: Peter Menzies: Will U.S. streaming companies play ball with the CRTC? (Globe and Mail)

International News

• [AI SAFETY] Dire warnings dominate world’s first AI Safety Summit (Globe and Mail)
• [PLATFORM REGULATION] Former Meta engineering leader to testify before Congress on Instagram’s harms to teens (AP)
• [ELECTIONS/AI DISINFORMATION] Poll shows most US adults think AI will add to election misinformation in 2024 (Time)
• [PLATFORM GOVERNANCE] Meta bars political advertisers from using generative AI ads tools (Reuters)
• [PLATFORM GOVERNANCE] Elon Musk’s X restructuring curtails disinformation research, spurs legal fears (Reuters)
• [IP/TRADEMARK] The Supreme Court seems likely to rule against a trademark in the ‘Trump too small’ case (AP)
• [CONTENT MODERATION] EU’s Breton tells TikTok CEO to ‘spare no effort’ against disinformation (Reuters)
• [AI GOVERNANCE] China took part in leaders’ AI meeting even though UK did not acknowledge (Reuters)
• [AI JOURNALISM] Microsoft Criticized for Embedding ‘Crass’ A.I. Poll Beside News Article(New York Times)
• [PRIVACY] Illinois smartphone users sue Motorola Mobility to force arbitration over alleged selfie privacy violations (Chicago Tribune)
• [DEFAMATION/PRIVACY] Jurors in Trump Defamation Trial to Go Unnamed for Their Own Protection (New York Times)
• [GENERATIVE AI] WhatsApp’s AI shows gun-wielding children when prompted with ‘Palestine’ (Guardian)
• [CONTENT MODERATION] Israel-Gaza war sparks debate over TikTok’s role in setting public opinion (Washington Post)
• [CONTENT MODERATION] TikTok Pushes Back Against Claims It Fuels Antisemitism(New York TImes)
• [MILITARY AI] Tech Start-Ups Try to Sell a Cautious Pentagon on A.I. (New York TImes)
• [PRIVACY] There are reasons to be leery of House speaker’s porn-monitoring software, experts say (Washington Post)
• [DEEPFAKE/AI REGULATION] Can Congress Save MrBeast and Tom Hanks From AI Deepfakes? (Wall Street Journal)
• [DEEPFAKE/AI REGULATION/CHILDREN] Students at NJ school reportedly used AI to make pornographic images of classmates (NBC)
• [PLATFORM GOVERNANCE] Meta refused to remove memes from popular veterans page after pressure from Australia’s defence department (Guardian)
• [AI GOVERNANCE/SOCIAL SERVICES] Inspired by online dating, AI tool for adoption matchmaking falls short for vulnerable foster kids (AP) 
• [AI REGULATION] Opinion: Tim Wu: In Regulating A.I., We May Be Doing Too Much. And Too Little. (New York Times)

(November 1 – 7, 2023)

Supreme Court of Canada

• Reasons for Judgment to be Rendered on Appeal: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation v. His Majesty the King, et al. (Man.) (38992)

Canadian Heritage

• Signing a modernized Canada–Switzerland audiovisual coproduction treaty
• Government of Canada will support organizations to counter harmful disinformation

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission 

• Claire Anderson to Canada’s Rural and Remote Broadband Conference
• Broadcasting and Telecoms:
  • Telecom order 2023-357
    [2023-11-03 11:00:00]
    Câblevision du nord de Québec inc. – Tariff Notices 15 and 15A – Destandardization of third-party Internet access service – Public records: Tariff Notices 15 and 15A
  • Telecom decision 2023-356
    [2023-11-02 11:00:00]
    CISC Business Process – Working Group – Consensus report BPRE099B – Updated version of the Master Agreement for Local Interconnection – Public record: 8621-C12-01/08 
  • Telecom order 2023-355
    [2023-11-02 11:00:00]
    Streamlined order – The Commission approves on an interim basis the following tariff application : Bell MTS Inc., TN 859 
  • Telecom order 2023-354
    [2023-11-01 11:00:00]
    Broadband Fund – Acceptance of statement of work for Bell Mobility Inc.’s mobile project in Manitoba (Provincial Trunk Highway 20) – Public record: 1011-NOC2019-0372

Innovation, Science and Economic Development

• Canada helps shape global dialogue on the responsible and safe use of artificial intelligence

Senate of Canada

• Combatting Hate: Islamophobia and its impact on Muslims in Canada

United Nations

• Secretary-General’s Statement at the UK AI Safety Summit

Amazon

• Amazon’s Counterfeit Crimes Unit’s collaboration with brands and law enforcement result in global raids

Apple

•  Apple reports fourth quarter results

Disney

• The Walt Disney Company To Purchase Remaining Stake In Hulu From Comcast

Google

• Maintaining choice and opportunity on Android and Google Play

Microsoft

• A new world of security: Microsoft’s Secure Future Initiative

Netflix

• One Year Into Netflix Ads

OpenAI

• New models and developer products announced at DevDay
• Introducing GPTs

TikTok

• Ensuring a safe, authentic space during times of conflict

YouTube

• Continued support for teen wellbeing and mental health on YouTube

Supreme Court of Canada  

• Scheduled Hearing: 2023-12-12 to 2023-12-13 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, et al. v. His Majesty the King, et al. (Quebec) (Criminal) (By Leave) 40371

Senate of Canada

• The Senate sitting and possible sitting days: November 7 to 10, 2023

House of Commons

• The House of Commons sitting and possible sitting days:  November 6 to 10, 2023

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

• Anticipated releases for the week of November 6 tp 10, 2023: 
  • Broadcasting Decisions:
    • Applications by various licensees to renew the broadcasting licences for television stations 
    • Tsi Tyónnheht Onkwawén:na Language and Cultural Centre
      Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, Ontario
      Indigenous FM radio station in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory 
      Public record: 2023-0058-1
• Upcoming Hearings
  • November 20, 2023 – Gatineau, Quebec

To consider the broadcasting applications listed in Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2023-138,  2023-138-1

o    We are examining what contributions traditional broadcasters and online services need to make to support Canadian and Indigenous content.

Public hearing: November 20 to December 8, 2023.

Read the agenda

View hearing documents (2023-138)

• CRTC Open Broadcasting Proceedings

• CRTC Open Telecom Proceedings

Consultations:

CRTC

·         Telecom

o    Consultation on telecommunications services in the Far North Oct 13, 2023 to Nov 29, 2023

o    Telecom notice of consultation 2022-147-3: Call for comments – Telecommunications in the Far North, Phase II – Changes to procedure – Public records: 8622-S93-202008482, 1011-NOC2020-0367 and 1011-NOC2022-0147 

·         Upcoming hearings

o    The Path Forward  – November 20, 2023

o    Others

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

·         Consultation on Copyright in the Age of Generative Artificial Intelligence –December 4, 2023

·         Consultation on Amending CPC-2-0-20 — Radio Frequency (RF) Fields—Signs and Access Control – January 4, 2024

Statistics Canada:

·         Census Data on Demand (CDOD) program consultative engagement – March 31, 2024

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

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