Newsletter for February 6, 2024

Weekly News (February 6, 2024)

Compiled by Brad McNeil with Sara Bannerman

McMaster University, Communications Governance Observatory

(January 30 – February 6, 2023)

Canadian News 

• [FREEDOM OF INFORMATION] Supreme Court rules Ford government doesn’t have to disclose mandate letters (Toronto Sun) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] Ottawa urged to move quickly on AI law to safeguard technology (Globe and Mail)  
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] With ‘superhuman’ artificial intelligence looming, Canada needs law now: AI pioneer (CBC) 
• [PUBLIC BROADCASTING] CBC needs new financial model not a new mandate, CEO Catherine Tait tells industry conference (National Post) 
• [PUBLIC BROADCASTING] CBC proposes Indigenous oversight office as part of new national strategy (City News Toronto) 
• [INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY] Ottawa exploring intellectual property tax break in review of flagship R&D incentive program (Globe and Mail) 
• [ONLINE STREAMING/CONTENT MODERATION] Ottawa to pour $100 million into Telefilm Canada over two years  (Globe and Mail) 
• [CYBERSECURITY] Global Affairs investigating ‘malicious’ hack after VPN compromised for over one month (National Post) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] AI is already permeating politics – and it’s time to put rules in place, experts say (Globe and Mail) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/DEEPFAKES] AI makes deepfake pornography more accessible, as Canadian laws play catch-up (CBC) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] Canada’s democracy is seriously endangered by artificial intelligence threats, expert warns (Toronto Star) 
• [PLATFORM GOVERNANCE] B.C.’s plans to sue social-media companies could take decades (Globe and Mail) 
• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] Court hears challenge of Ontario law banning ‘aggressive’ panhandling (Globe and Mail) 
• [PRESS FREEDOM] Indigenous journalist facing charges after arrest covering story (Globe and Mail) 
• [FREEDOM OF INFORMATION] What to know about ‘vexatious’ FOI requester provisions  (Globe and Mail) 
• [FREEDOM OF INFORMATION] Nova Scotia watchdog calls for overhaul of province’s FOI laws (Globe and Mail) 
• [BROADCASTING/FRENCH LANGUAGE] Quebec committee recommends new ‘fundamental right’ to access French content online (CBC) 
• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] OPINION: John Ivison: University instructor fights back after being suspended for daring to denounce Hamas (National Post) 
• [MEDIA] OPINION: Gary Mason: The slow decline of the news industry is bad news for democracy (Globe and Mail) 

International News

• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/REGULATION] Europe within reach of landmark AI rules after nod from EU countries (Reuters) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/REGULATION] AI companies will need to start reporting their safety tests to the US government (ABC) 
• [PLATFORM GOVERNANCE/ONLINE HARMS] Silicon Valley Battles States Over New Online Safety Laws for Children (New York Times) 
• [PLATFORM GOVERNANCE/ONLINE HARMS] Four takeaways from the Senate hearing on kids’ online safety ; Senators put parents front and center, but the House remains a question. (Washington Post) 
• [PLATFORM GOVERNANCE/ONLINE HARMS] Will Lawmakers Really Act to Protect Children Online? Some Say Yes. (New York Times) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/REGULATION] TechScape: Why is the UK so slow to regulate AI? (The Guardian) 
• [JOURNALISM/CYBERSECURITY] Journalists, lawyers and activists hacked with Pegasus spyware in Jordan, forensic probe finds (Associated Press) 
• [INTERNET POLICY/ONLINE HARMS] US expresses concerns over Sri Lanka’s controversial internet regulation law (CityNews) 
• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] U.N. expert tells Philippines to act on media killings, abolish anti-communist task force (Reuters) 
• [CYBERSECURITY] AI will make scam emails look genuine, UK cybersecurity agency warns (The Guardian) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/REGULATION] FCC proposes making AI-generated robocalls illegal over election bad actors (Fox Business) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/REGULATION] As Tech CEOs Are Grilled Over Child Safety Online, AI Is Complicating the Issue (Time) 
• [COMPETITION] Google’s antitrust bouts are coming to a head (Washington Post)
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE]  Meta to start labeling AI-generated images from companies like OpenAI, Google (Reuters)
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/DEEPFAKES] Fake and Explicit Images of Taylor Swift Started on 4chan, Study Says (New York Times) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/DEEPFAKES] Meta oversight board calls company’s deepfake rule ‘incoherent’ (Reuters) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] When Amazon’s new AI tool answers shoppers’ queries, who benefits? (Reuters) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/COPYRIGHT] The Day the Music Died (on TikTok) (New York Times) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/LABOR] Why Is Big Tech Still Cutting Jobs? (New York Times) 
•  (Wall Street Journal) 
• [CYBERSECURITY] US says it disrupted a China cyber threat, but warns hackers could still wreak havoc for Americans (Associated Press) 
• [PRIVACY] Tex. attorney general draws privacy concerns in latest attack on trans youths  (Washington Post) 
• [DATA PRIVACY] Trump’s Privacy Case Over Dossier Thrown Out by U.K. High Court (New York Times) 
• [PRIVACY] Apple’s new Vision Pro feels like a privacy mess (Washington Post) 
• [MEDIA/ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] OPINION: Jim Albrecht: The real wolf menacing the news business? AI. (Washington Post)
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] A ‘Mothra vs. Godzilla’ battle is looming over AI (Washington Post) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/ADVERTISING] Beware the hucksters capitalizing on ‘AI washing’ (Washington Post) 

(January 24-29, 2024)

Supreme Court of Canada

• [PRIVACY/FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION (mandate letters)] “Judgment on appeal: The Supreme Court of Canada has delivered its judgment in the following appeal. The Court invites you to read the reasons for judgment and the plain language summary called a Case in Brief”: Ontario (Attorney General) v. Ontario (Information and Privacy Commissioner),  2024 SCC 4

Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada

• Privacy Commissioner appears before Parliamentary committee on its study on the federal government’s use of technological tools capable of extracting personal data from mobile devices and computers 
• Appearance before the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics on its study on the federal government’s use of technological tools capable of extracting personal data from mobile devices and computers 
• Making an impact – the OPC’s new strategic priorities 

Democratic Institutions

• Government of Canada announces measures to protect Durham by-election from foreign interference 

Canadian Heritage

• Supporting the audiovisual sector through Telefilm Canada 

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

• Canada and EU boost their strategic digital partnership to address new challenges 

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission 

• Broadcasting and Telecoms:
  • Telecom regulatory policy 2024-26
    [2024-02-05 11:00:00]
    Implementing thousand-block pooling – Public record: 1011-NOC2023-0092
  • Telecom notice of consultation 2024-25
    [2024-02-05 11:00:00]
    Call for comments – Attachment of wireless facilities on support structures owned or controlled by incumbent local exchange carriers – Public record: 8690-Q15-202002674, 8622-R28-202004365, 8690-R28-202304468 and 1011-NOC2024-0025
  • Telecom order 2024-24
    [2024-02-05 11:00:00]
    Streamlined order – The Commission approves on a final basis the following tariff application: Northwestel Inc., TN 1200
  • Telecom order 2024-23
    [2024-02-01 11:00:00]
    Streamlined order – The Commission approves the following tariff application: Bell Canada, TN 7680
  • Broadcasting notice of consultation 2023-138-2
    [2024-02-01 11:00:00]
    Notice of hearing – 20 November 2023 – Gatineau, Quebec – The Path Forward – Working towards a modernized regulatory framework regarding contributions to support Canadian and Indigenous content – Deadline for the filing of final written submissions

Meta

• Labeling AI-Generated Images on Facebook, Instagram and Threads  
• Helping Teens Avoid Sextortion Scams 
• Our Work to Help Provide Young People with Safe, Positive Experiences 

Microsoft 

• Governing AI in Africa: Policy frameworks for a new frontier
• Broadening AI innovation: Microsoft’s pledge to the National AI Research Resource pilot

TikTok

• TikTok statement in response to Universal Music Group 
• TikTok CEO Shou Chew’s Opening Statement – Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on Online Child Sexual Exploitation Crisis – January 31, 2024 

X (formerly Twitter)

• An update on our work to tackle Child Sexual Exploitation on X

YouTube

• Safer Internet Day: Supporting teen mental health and wellbeing on YouTube 

Senate of Canada

• The Senate sitting and possible sitting days: The Senate will sit from February 6 – 8, 2024,. With possible sitting days on February 9 and 12. 
• Bills on the Agenda: 
• C-244: An Act to amend the Copyright Act (diagnosis, maintenance and repair) – At second reading in the Senate 
• C-294: An Act to amend the Copyright Act (interoperability) – At second reading in the Senate 
•  C-288 44th C-288: An Act to amend the Telecommunications Act (transparent and accurate broadband services information) – At second reading in the Senate 

House of Commons

• The House of Commons sitting and possible sitting days: The House of Commons will sit from February 6 – 9, 12, 2024.
• Meetings: 
• Standing Committee on Industry and Technology (INDU): Bill C-27, An Act to enact the Consumer Privacy Protection Act, the Personal Information and Data Protection Tribunal Act and the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act and to make consequential and related amendments to other Acts – Wednesday, Feb 7, 2024, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. 
• Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (ETHI): Federal Government’s Use of Technological Tools Capable of Extracting Personal Data from Mobile Devices and Computers – Tuesday, February 6, 2024, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

• Anticipated releases for the week of 5 to 9 February 2024: 
• The CRTC plans to issue the following decisions and/or regulatory policies in the week of 5 to 9 February 2024. This is subject to change without notice: 
• Implementing thousand-block pooling. Public record: 1011-NOC2023-0092
• Upcoming Hearings
• 2023-369 – Notice of hearing – 8 February 2024 – National Capital Region – Deadline for submission of interventions/comments/answers: 18 December 2023
• February 12, 2024 – Gatineau, Quebec
• Notice of hearing – Review of the wholesale high-speed access service framework – Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2023-56, 2023-56-1, 2023-56-2, and 2023-56-3.

View hearing documents (2023-56)

• CRTC Open Broadcasting Proceedings
• CRTC Open Telecom Proceedings
• February
• February 23, 2023 – National Capital Region To consider the broadcasting applications listed in Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2022-331, 2022-331-1 View hearing documents (2022-331)

Consultations:

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

·         Radiocommunication Act Exemption Order (Jammers — Royal Canadian Mounted Police), No. 2024-1 – January 29, 2024 

Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada

·         Biometrics Guidance Consultation – February 16, 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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