Weekly Newsletter for February 14, 2024

Weekly News (February 13, 2024)

Compiled by Brad McNeil with Sara Bannerman

McMaster University, Communications Governance Observatory

(February 7 – 13, 2024)

Canadian News 

• [TELECOM POLICY] Telecom companies push back on CRTC moves to open access to networks (Globe and Mail) 
• [MEDIA OWNERSHIP/TELECOM POLICY] BCE cutting work force by 9% in biggest restructuring effort in almost 30 years (Globe and Mail) 
• [MEDIA OWNERSHIP/TELECOM POLICY] Bell ends some CTV newscasts, sells radio stations in shakeup amid layoffs (Toronto Sun) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/REGULATION] Liberals’ proposed AI law too vague, costly, Big Tech executives tell MPs (CBC) 
• [FREEDOM OF INFORMATION] Access to information system needs to be fixed, Poilievre says (Globe and Mail) 
• [TELECOM POLICY] CRTC asked to tear down Rogers’ ‘bulk agreements’ with condo developers (Financial Times) 
• [RACISM AND COURT]  Supreme Court slammed after anti-racism advocates ‘disinvited’ from presentation over posts on Israeli-Palestinian conflict  (Toronto Star) 
• [PUBLIC BROADCASTING] CBC proposes Indigenous oversight office as part of new national strategy (City News Toronto) 
• [PUBLIC BROADCASTING]  Shields backs Thomas as she opens fire on CBC president (The Hamilton Spectator)  
• [ONLINE HARMS/PLATFORM GOVERNANCE] Social media companies can’t be let ‘off the hook’ over deadly sextortion of kids, B.C. premier says (CBC) 
• [HATE SPEECH] Nunavik MP wants to change Criminal Code on hate speech  (Penticton Herald)  
• [ONLINE NEWS ACT/ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] Google launches AI chatbot Gemini in Canada after long delay  (Globe and Mail) 
• [CYBER/ELECTION SECURITY] B.C. Senator Yuen Pau Woo challenges reports suggesting China targeted MPs (Globe and Mail) 
• [LIBRARY CENSORSHIP] Montreal library moves children’s books over author’s Israel comments (Montreal Gazette) 
• [INTIMATE IMAGES/ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] Canadians have very limited options if fake explicit photos end up on social media (National Post) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] More Canadians using AI tools, despite ‘deep-rooted’ fears about the tech: Poll (Toronto Sun)  
• [TELECOMMUNICATIONS] An excerpt from Alexandra Posadzki’s Rogers v. Rogers: The Battle for Control of Canada’s Telecom Empire (Globe and Mail)  
• [MEDIA/JOURNALISM] OPINION: Jennifer Cole:  Local news in Canada can’t be allowed to die  (Toronto Star) 
• [ACCESS TO INFORMATION] OPINION: The Editorial Board: Canada has a secrecy problem. The Supreme Court just made it worse ( Globe and Mail) 
• [TELECOM, BROADCASTING POLICY] OPINION: Andrew Phillips:  Bell spits in the government’s face with latest media cuts  (Toronto Star) 
• [ONLINE NEWS ACT] OPINION: Eric Blais:  François Legault’s CAQ finds it difficult to ‘unfriend’ Meta after promising a boycott  (Toronto Star) 

International News

• [ELECTIONS/PLATFORM GOVERNANCE] EU drafts guidelines as it urges Big Tech to protect democratic elections (Reuters) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/ELECTIONS] AI companies agree to limit election ‘deepfakes’ but fall short of ban  (Washington Post) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/ELECTIONS] Generative AI may change elections this year. Indonesia shows how (Reuters) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] Imran Khan’s ‘Victory Speech’ From Jail Shows A.I.’s Peril and Promise (New York Times) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] AI comes to the D.C. government  (Washington Post) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/REGULATION] F.C.C. Bans A.I.-Generated Robocalls (New York Times) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/REGULATION] UK’s AI Safety Institute ‘needs to set standards rather than do testing’  (The Guardian) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/REGULATION] AI safeguards can easily be broken, UK Safety Institute finds  (The Guardian) 
• [INTERNET POLICY] FTC’s Bedoya says laws to keep teens off social media won’t work ; ‘Meet a teenager, they will find a way to get around that,’ the commissioner said. (Washington Post) 
• [CYBERSECURITY] Two Cases Aim to Cut Off China and Iran From U.S. Technology (New York Times) 
• [CYBERSECURITY/ELECTIONS] Biden campaign decision to join TikTok raises national security concerns (The Guardian) 
• [CYBERSECURITY/DISINFORMATION] French security experts identify Moscow-based disinformation network (The Guardian) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/REGULATION] AI legislation in Calif. could spark broader regulation across U.S.  (Washington Post) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] The Friar Who Became the Vatican’s Go-To Guy on A.I. (New York Times) 
• [CONTENT MODERATION] Meta’s oversight board to investigate posts about Australian Indigenous vote (Reuters) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] New Hampshire opens criminal probe into AI calls impersonating Biden  (Washington Post) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/REGULATION] Google Joins Effort to Help Spot Content Made With A.I. (New York Times) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/ADVERTISING] Disney harnesses AI to drive streaming ad technology (Reuters) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/LABOUR] AI Is Starting to Threaten White-Collar Jobs. Few Industries Are Immune. (Wall Street Journal) 
• [INTERNET POLICY]  Florida lawmakers want to ban social media for minors: ‘Woke’ censorship or safety? (USA Today) 
• [DEFAMATION] Michael Mann, a Leading Climate Scientist, Wins His Defamation Suit (New York Times) 
• [PRIVACY] H.I.V. Groups Warn of Privacy Risks in How C.D.C. Tracks Virus Samples (New York Times) 
• [HATE SPEECH/FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] Inside Meta, a debate over when the word ‘Zionist’ is hate speech  (Washington Post) 
• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] OPINION: Gordon LaForge: The Sun Is Setting on Indonesia’s Democratic Era (New York Times)

(February 7 – 13, 2024)

Supreme Court of Canada

• [PRIVACY] Judgment on Leave Applications: “The Supreme Court of Canada has decided the following leave applications:” Jacob Neumann v. His Majesty the King (Alta.) (Criminal) (By Leave) (40931) – “The motion for an extension of time to serve and file the application for leave to appeal is granted. The application for leave to appeal from the judgment of the Court of Appeal of Alberta (Calgary), Number 2201-0119A, 2023 ABCA 200, dated June 28, 2023, is dismissed.”
• [TELECOMMUNICATIONS] ] Judgment on Leave Applications: “The Supreme Court of Canada has decided the following leave applications:” His Majesty the King in Right of Ontario v. Vanessa Fareau and Ransome Capay – and between – Bell Canada v. Vanessa Fareau and Ransome Capay (Ont.) (Civil) (By Leave) (40823) – “The applications for leave to  appeal from the judgment of the Court of Appeal for Ontario, Number C70691, 2023 ONCA 303, dated May 2, 2023, are dismissed with costs.”

Federal Court of Appeal 

• [TELECOMMUNICATIONS] Bell Canada v. Beanfield Technologies Inc. – February 9, 2024. Neutral citation: 2024 FCA 28. File numbers: 23-A-52. 

Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada

• Commissioner to appear before Parliamentary committee on its study of Bill C-26 
• Privacy Commissioner appears before Parliamentary committee on its study of Bill C-26 
•  Why privacy matters 
•  Appearance before the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security on Bill C-26 

Canadian Heritage

• Leila Wright to the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security
• Steven Harroun to the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics  

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission 

• Broadcasting and Telecoms:
  • Telecom decision 2024-35
    [2024-02-12 11:00:00]
    Forbearance from the regulation of high-capacity / digital data services interexchange private line services on certain additional routes – Public record: 8638-S1-01/98
  • Telecom order 2024-34
    [2024-02-12 11:00:00]
    Broadband Fund – Holdback report for Tough Country Communications Ltd.’s British Columbia transport fibre project – Public record: 1011-NOC2019-0372
  • Telecom order 2024-33
    [2024-02-12 11:00:00]
    Distributel Communications Limited – Request to revise the interim access rates for disaggregated wholesale high-speed access services – Public record: 8662-D11-202201424
  • Broadcasting decision 2024-32
    [2024-02-09 11:00:00]
    Corus Television Limited Partnership – Toronto, Ontario – Application to amend the broadcasting licence for the discretionary service BC News 1, by amending the condition of service relating to the broadcast of advertising material
  • Broadcasting decision 2024-31
    [2024-02-09 11:00:00]
    Stingray Radio Inc. – Drumheller, Alberta – Application for a new broadcasting licence to operate an English-language commercial FM radio station in Drumheller
  • Broadcasting decision 2024-30
    [2024-02-09 11:00:00]
    U Multicultural Inc. – Winnipeg, Manitoba – Application for a broadcasting licence to operate a multilingual community television station in Winnipeg
  • Broadcasting decision 2024-29
    [2024-02-09 11:00:00]
    U Multicultural Inc. – Winnipeg, Manitoba – Application for a broadcasting licence to operate an English-language community FM radio station in Winnipeg
  • Broadcasting decision 2024-28
    [2024-02-09 11:00:00]
    Gospel Music Radio Inc. – Oromocto, New Brunswick – Application for a broadcasting licence to operate an English-language commercial speciality (Religious music) FM radio station in Oromocto
  • Broadcasting decision 2024-27
    [2024-02-09 11:00:00]
    Maritime Broadcasting System Limited – Sussex, New Brunswick – Application for a broadcasting licence to operate an English-language commercial FM radio station in Sussex
  • 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 [“Further to Broadcasting Notice of Consultation 2023-138, the Commission announces that it will accept until 15 February 2024 final written submissions by parties that have intervened in this proceeding.”]

Amazon 

• Advancing US regulatory leadership for AI in 2024 

Microsoft 

• Here’s how we’re working with journalists to create the newsrooms of the future with AI 
• Increased uptake of generative AI technology brings excitement and highlights the importance of family conversations about online safety, says new research from Microsoft 

X (formerly Twitter)

• Creator Targeting: Select and connect with creators on X 

Senate of Canada

• The Senate sitting and possible sitting days:  The Senate will sit from February 13 – 15, 2024,.With possible sitting days on February 16, 2024.
  • 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 13 – 16, 2024.
  • Bills on the Agenda:
    • February 15, 2024 – C-354 — Mr. Beaulieu (La Pointe-de-l’Île) — An Act to amend the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Act (Quebec’s cultural distinctiveness and French-speaking communities) — Second reading (resuming debate)  
  • Meetings:
    • 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 13, 2024, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 
    • 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, February 14, 2024, 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

• Anticipated releases for the week of 12 to 16 February 2024:
  • The CRTC is not planning on issuing any decisions, regulatory policies and reports in the week of 12 to 16 February 2024. This is subject to change without notice.
• Upcoming Hearings
  • 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)
  • “Further to Broadcasting Notice of Consultation 2023-138, the Commission announces that it will accept until 15 February 2024 final written submissions by parties that have intervened in this proceeding.”

• CRTC Open Broadcasting Proceedings
• CRTC Open Telecom Proceedings

Consultations:

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 

To subscribe to this list, send an email to ncgl-news-l-join@mcmaster.ca  

To unsubscribe from this list, send an email to ncgl-news-l-leave@mcmaster.ca