Weekly Newsletter for March 12, 2024

Weekly News (March 12, 2024)

Compiled by Brad McNeil with Sara Bannerman

McMaster University, Communications Governance Observatory

(March 6 – 12, 2024)

Canadian News 

• [ONLINE HARMS BILL]  ‘Government gone overboard’: Experts concerned by Ottawa’s attempts to rein in hate speech  (Toronto Star) 
• [ONLINE HARMS BILL] Comparing people to vermin or excrement could prompt hate-speech probe under online harms bill, officials say (Globe and Mail) 
• [ONLINE HARMS BILL]  Government says only extreme online hate speech would be probed by human rights body (CTV) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE REGULATION] MPs to move on AI bill without testimony from Canadian companies, business group says (Globe and Mail) 
• [FREEDOM OF THE PRESS] RCMP accused of pattern of mistreatment toward Rebel News (Globe and Mail) 
• [PUBLIC BROADCASTING] As CBC’s ad sales fall, the taxpayers step in (Globe and Mail)
• [ACCESS TO INFORMATION] IJF launches FOI database that will save you a federal piggyback (Globe and Mail: Secret Canada)  
• [PRIVACY] With AI, workplace surveillance has ‘skyrocketed,’ leaving Canadian laws behind (Globe and Mail) 
• [DEFAMATION] Montreal-area Chinese community centres under RCMP investigation sue for defamation (Globe and Mail) 
• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION]  Police face increased scrutiny after two Toronto political events cancelled amid pro-Palestinian protests  (Toronto Star) 
• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] Jewish organizations granted injunction against protesters in Montreal (Globe and Mail) 
• [PRIVACY/LAWSUIT] B.C. class action alleges menstruation cycle tracking app breached users’ privacy (Globe and Mail) 
• [CYBERSECURITY] What do cities face when hit by a ransomware attack? Cyber experts explain, as Hamilton issue continues (CBC) 
• [ONLINE HARMS BILL] OPINION: Christine Van Geyn: Under Bill C-63, an online comment could cost you thousands (National Post)  
• [PRIVACY] OPINION: Vass Bednar & Brenda McPhailYour vending machine might be scanning your face, and this is not okay (Globe and Mail) 
• [ONLINE HARMS BILL] OPINION: Marcus Gee: It’s always wrong to criminalize speech (Globe and Mail) 
• [ONLINE HARMS BILL] OPINION: Alexander T. Polgar:  We must combat hate, but preventing it is better  (Hamilton Spectator) 
• [COMPETITION] OPINION: Editorial Board: The gradual-sudden shift in competition law (Globe and Mail) 

International News

• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/PLATFORM REGULATION] Forced to Change: Tech Giants Bow to Global Onslaught of Rules (New York Times) 
• [PLATFORM REGULATION] Europe’s Digital Markets Act is forcing tech giants to make changes. Here’s what that will look like (Globe and Mail)
• [PLATFORM REGULATION/COMPETITION] EU’s Digital Markets Act hands boost to Big Tech’s smaller rivals (Reuters) 
• [PRIVACY] Spain puts temporary ban on Worldcoin eyeballs scans, citing concerns over privacy (Financial Post) 
• [LAWSUIT] Sam Altman’s Worldcoin files lawsuit after Spanish ban (Reuters) 
• [PLATFORM REGULATION] The U.S. considers another TikTok ban. Here’s what the bill does. (Washington Post) 
• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] Hong Kong issues new national security law bill with tougher jail terms (Reuters) 
• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] Will Memes About Politicians Now Get Sri Lankans Thrown in Jail? (New York Times) 
• [PLATFORM REGULATION] Italy’s data watchdog looks into Open AI tool that turns text into video (Reuters) 
• [ONLINE HARMS/POLICING] German police conduct raids against people suspected of posting misogynistic hate speech online (New York Times) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/COPYRIGHT/LAWSUIT] Nvidia is sued by authors over AI use of copyrighted works (Reuters) 
• [PRIVACY] EU Commission’s use of Microsoft software breached privacy rules, watchdog says (Reuters) 
• [PRIVACY] South Korea probes data protection by e-commerce platforms like AliExpress, Temu (Reuters) 
• [PRIVACY] U.S. Spy Agencies Know Your Secrets. They Bought Them. (Wall Street Journal) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/REGULATION] House AI task force leaders take long view on regulating the tools (Washington Post)  
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/REGULATION] This agency is tasked with keeping AI safe. Its offices are crumbling.  (Washington Post) 
• [PLATFORM REGULATION] Our faith in technology officially died this week ; The 2010s bubbly optimism about technology is now mixed with mistrust and resentments  (Washington Post) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/DISINFORMATION/ELECTIONS] AI-generated images of Trump with Black voters being spread by supporters (The Guardian) 
• [ACCESS TO INFORMATION]  Review finds states’ rules often put the burden of enforcing open government on private citizens (Toronto Star)  
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/REGULATION] Microsoft’s AI Tool Generates Sexually Harmful and Violent Images, Engineer Warns (Wall Street Journal) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] Amid explosive demand, America is running out of power  (Washington Post) 
• [PLATFORM REGULATION] Trump and Biden are muddling the politics of a TikTok ban (Washington Post) 
• [PLATFORM REGULATION/ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] House AI task force leaders take long view on regulating the tools ; ‘We’re going to chip away at this over the next several years,’ the chair says.  (Washington Post) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] Ex-Google engineer charged with stealing AI secrets (BBC) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/DEEPFAKES] AI deepfakes are part of the 2024 election. Will the federal government regulate them? (USA Today) 
•  [PRIVACY] Automakers Are Sharing Consumers’ Driving Behavior With Insurance Companies (New York Times) 
• [MEDIA] Britain considering measures to stop foreign states from buying newspapers (Reuters)
• [ACCESS TO INFORMATION] How Much Access to Government Records Does the Public Deserve? (New York Times) 
• [CENSORSHIP]
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] OPINION: Molly Roberts: Royal photo fiasco shows why no one believes what they see anymore  (Washington Post) 
• [PRIVACY] OPINION: Brian Reardon: The Corporate Transparency Act Is a Personal-Data Grab (Wall Street Journal) 

(March 6 – 12, 2024)

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

• Improving mobile connectivity to keep people safe in northern Manitoba 

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission 

• Broadcasting and Telecoms:
  • Telecom decision 2024-52
    [2024-03-12 11:00:00]
    Bell Canada – Application to review and vary Telecom Notice of Consultation 2024-25 – Public record: 8662-B2-202400646
  • Telecom decision 2024-51
    [2024-03-12 11:00:00]
    Revocation of basic international telecommunications services licences
  • Telecom order 2024-50
    [2024-03-11 11:00:00]
    Streamlined order – The Commission approves on a final basis the following tariff applications: Northwestel Inc., TN 1203, TN 1204 and TN 1205 and TELUS Communications Inc., TN 662
  • Telecom order 2024-49
    [2024-03-08 11:00:00]
    Streamlined order – The Commission approves the following tariff application: Bell Canada, TN 7682
  • Telecom order 2024-48
    [2024-03-06 11:00:00]
    Broadband Fund – Change requests – Columbia Basin Broadband Corporation’s British Columbia transport fibre project – Public record: 1011-NOC2019-0372
  • Broadcasting decision 2024-47
    [2024-03-05 11:00:00]
    Rogers Communications Canada Inc. – Red Deer, Alberta – Application to revoke the broadcasting licence issued to Rogers Communications Canada Inc., on behalf of Shaw Cablesystems Limited
  • Telecom order 2024-46
    [2024-03-01 11:00:00]
    Streamlined order – The Commission approves on an interim basis, by majority decision, the following tariff application: Northwestel Inc., TN 1208

OpenAI

• OpenAI and Elon Musk
•  Review completed & Altman, Brockman to continue to lead OpenAI 

TikTok 

• Update on Universal Music Publishing Group 

Senate of Canada

• The Senate sitting and possible sitting days:  The Senate will not sit the week of March 11 to 15, 2024. The next sitting day is March 19, 2024.

House of Commons

• The House of Commons sitting and possible sitting days:  The House of Commons will not sit the week of March 11 to 15, 2024. The next sitting day is March 18, 2024.
  • Bills on the Agenda:
    • Bill C-63: An Act to enact the Online Harms Act, to amend the Criminal Code, the Canadian Human Rights Act and An Act respecting the mandatory reporting of Internet child pornography by persons who provide an Internet service and to make consequential and related amendments to other Acts  – At second reading in the House of Commons 
  • Meetings:
    • Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates (OGGO): ArriveCAN Application – Wednesday, March 13, 2024, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 
    • Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates (OGGO): ArriveCAN Application – Thursday, March 14, 2024, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

• Anticipated releases for the week of 11 to 15 March 2024:
  • The CRTC is not planning on issuing any decisions, regulatory policies and reports in the week of 11 to 15 March 2024. This is subject to change without notice.
• Upcoming Consultation
  • Compliance and Enforcement notice of consultation 2024-43-1 [2024-03-04 11:00:00] Call for comments – Proposed conditions of service requiring implementation of the call traceback process by telecommunications service providers providing voice telecommunications services – Changes to deadlines – Public record: 1011-NOC2024-0043 
• Upcoming Hearing
  • March 25, 2024 – National Capital Region
    To consider the broadcasting applications listed in Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2024-11 –  View hearing documents (2024-11)
  • April 17, 2023 – Whitehorse, Yukon
    Call for comments – Telecommunications in the Far North, Phase II – Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2022-147, 2022-147-1, 2022-147-2, 2022-147-3, 2022-147-4
    View hearing documents (2022-147)
• CRTC Open Broadcasting Proceedings
• CRTC Open Telecom Proceedings

Consultations:

• Statistics Canada:
  •  Census Data on Demand (CDOD) program consultative engagement – March 31, 2024

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