Weekly Newsletter for June 11, 2024

Weekly News (June 11, 2024)

Compiled by Brad McNeil with Sara Bannerman

McMaster University, Communications Governance Observatory

(June 5 – 11, 2024)

Canadian News

• [ONLINE STREAMING ACT] Consumers may face higher prices after streaming giants told to invest $200-million in Canadian film, TV and music  (Globe and Mail) 
• [ONLINE NEWS ACT]  Google chooses group to distribute $100M to Canadian news media  (Toronto Star) 
• [ONLINE HARTMS ACT/FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION]  Government analysis says online harms bill won’t infringe on Charter rights  (Toronto Star) 
• [ONLINE HARMS ACT] Justice minister says he’s open to changing online harms bill (CBC) 
• [PRIVACY] Canadian, British privacy officials launch joint investigation into 23andMe data breach  (Globe and Mail) 
• [CYBERSECURITY] Key federal agencies ill-equipped to fight growing cybercrime threat, auditor finds (City News) 
• [TELECOMMUNICATIONS] Internet ads will soon need to disclose typical download speeds, not just their best (National Post) 
• [CYBERSECURITY] Cybersecurity standards emerging in Canada as ransomware business booms  (Globe and Mail) 
• [PRIVACY] Firm that does background checks for landlords being investigated (CBC) 
• CONTENT REGULATION]
• [FOREIGN INTERFERENCE] LeBlanc accuses Conservatives of theatrics as they push for names of MPs in meddling report  (Globe and Mail) 
• [ONLINE STREAMING ACT] OPINION: Barry Hertz: How the CRTC ruined Netflix and Disney’s summer vacations, but hopefully not yours  (Globe and Mail) 
• [ONLINE STREAMING ACT] Streaming services must now pay into fund for Canadian news, content: CRTC (Financial Post) 
• [ONLINE HARMS ACT] Garage set on fire. Smashed windows. MPs and elected officials are rattled by rising intimidation and threats — and ‘someone is going to get seriously hurt’ (Toronto Star) 
• [CULTURAL INDUSTRIES] State of the Arts: Canada’s cultural industry is feeling the squeeze (Globe and Mail) 
• [TELECOMMUNICATIONS] Wildfires underscore resiliency challenges for Canada’s telecoms (Globe and Mail) 
• [CAMPUS PROTEST/FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] Police say McGill occupation won’t change approach to pro-Palestinian encampment  (Toronto Star) 
• [CAMPUS PROTEST/FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] Students, academic staff to intervene in U of T encampment hearing (Financial Post) 
• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] OPINION: Richard Shields:  How free is ‘religious freedom’ in Canada?  (Hamilton Spectator) 
• [BLOCKCHAIN] OPINION: Alex Tapscott:  Canada used to be global leader in Web3. Now, we’re playing catch up  (Toronto Star) 
• [ONLINE HARMS] OPINION: Dianne Lalonde: Cyberflashing is a form of gendered sexual violence that must be taken seriously (The Conversation) 

International News

• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION/INTERNET POLICY] The Internet and the First Amendment (New York Times) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/PRIVACY] Meta’s AI Project Faces Privacy Complaints in Europe (Wall Street Journal) 
• [COMPETITION/ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] U.S. Clears Way for Antitrust Inquiries of Nvidia, Microsoft and OpenAI (New York Times) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/REGULATION] US election officials split on AI disclosure rules for political ads (Reuters) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/REGULATION] States Take Up A.I. Regulation Amid Federal Standstill (New York Times) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/ELECTIONS] The AI election is here. Regulators can’t decide whose problem it is.  (Washington Post) 
• [CONTENT MODERATION/CENSORSHIP/LAWSUIT] Palestinian American sues Meta, alleging bias  (Washington Post) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/DATA PRIVACY] Meta’s AI to train using social media posts from Europe (Reuters) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/PLATFORM REGULATION] Israel Secretly Targets U.S. Lawmakers With Influence Campaign on Gaza War (New York TImes) 
• [CONTENT MODERATION/MISINFORMATION] Study: After Twitter suspensions, less misinformation spread  (Washington Post) 
• [CYBERSECURITY] US proposes to boost internet security, citing Chinese carrier action (Reuters) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/REGULATION] Regulators Take on the Giants of A.I. (New York Times) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE]  Apple’s artificial intelligence makeover is not really about you  (Washington Post) 
• [CONTENT REGULATION] Under pressure, YouTube tightens age limits on gun videos ; The move follows long-standing pressure from Democrats and watchdog groups.  (Washington Post) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/ELECTIONS] ‘Convergence of Anger’ Drives Disinformation Around E.U. Elections (New York Times) 
• [PRIVACY/ADVERTISING] The Ads on Your United Airlines In-Flight Screen Are Getting a Lot More Specific (Wall Street Journal) 
• [CONTENT MODERATION/FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] Abortion Groups Say Tech Companies Suppress Posts and Accounts  (New York Times) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/MISINFORMATION] It Looked Like a Reliable News Site. It Was an A.I. Chop Shop. (New York Times) 
• [CYBERSECURITY] Some US lawmakers call for more scrutiny of news app NewsBreak over Chinese origins (Reuters) 
• [DEFAMATION] Woman sues Netflix over Baby Reindeer character (BBC) 
• [DATA PRIVACY] Your Driving, Tracked (New York Times) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] Artists are fleeing Instagram to keep their work out of Meta’s AI  (Washington Post) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] OPINION: Josh Tyrangiel:  Apple just unveiled the first rational theory of AI for the masses  (Washington Post) 
• [CENSORSHIP] OPINION: Editorial Board: United Nations, Climate Censor (Wall Street Journal) 

(June 5 – 11, 2024)

Canadian Heritage 

• Minister St-Onge to meet with audiovisual industry leaders in Banff 

Competition Bureau Canada

• Sirius to pay $3.3 million penalty to settle concerns over subscription price advertising 
• Competition Bureau reaches agreement with Bell to protect competition for outdoor advertising in Ontario and Quebec 

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

• Minister Champagne announces a new governance framework for cleantech funding 

Office of the Auditor General of Canada

• 2024 Reports 5 to 7 of the Auditor General of Canada to the Parliament of Canada – Combating Cybercrime  

Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada

• 2023-2024 Annual Report to Parliament on the Privacy Act and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act – Trust, innovation, and protecting the fundamental right to privacy in the digital age 
• Annual report highlights OPC work in context of global privacy trends 
• Privacy authorities for Canada and the United Kingdom launch joint investigation into 23andMe data breach 
• Launch of exploratory consultations on the privacy implications of age-assurance systems 
• Commissioner Dufresne addresses Canada Privacy Symposium 2024 

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

• News Releases
  • Nirmala Naidoo to the annual conference of the Western Association of Broadcasters 
• Broadcasting and Telecoms 
  • Telecom order 2024-128
    [2024-06-11 11:00:00]
    Streamlined order – The Commission approves on an interim basis the following tariff application: Câblevision du nord de Québec inc., TN 16
  • Telecom order 2024-127
    [2024-06-11 11:00:00]
    Streamlined order – The Commission approves the following tariff application: Bell Canada, TN 7685
  • Telecom order 2024-126
    [2024-06-10 11:00:00]
    Streamlined order – The Commission approves on an interim basis the following tariff application: Bell Canada, TN 7687
  • Telecom order 2024-125
    [2024-06-10 11:00:00]
    Streamlined order – The Commission approves on a final basis the following tariff application: Northwestel Inc., TN 1214
  • Telecom order 2024-124
    [2024-06-10 11:00:00]
    Streamlined order – The Commission approves on an interim basis the following tariff application: Northwestel Inc., TN 1215
  • Telecom order 2024-123
    [2024-06-07 11:00:00]
    Bell Canada – Disaggregated Broadband Service – new central office – Public record: Tariff Notice 7688
  • Telecom order 2024-122
    [2024-06-05 11:00:00]
    TELUS Communications Inc. – Tariff Notice 576 – Amendment to Support Structure Service – Public record: Tariff Notice 576

Google 

• How we’re moving forward with the Canadian news ecosystem 

Apple

•  Introducing Apple Intelligence, the personal intelligence system that puts powerful generative models at the core of iPhone, iPad, and Mac  

OpenAI

• OpenAI and Apple announce partnership to integrate ChatGPT into Apple experiences  
• Expanding on how Voice Engine works and our safety research

Senate of Canada

• The Senate sitting and possible sitting days:  The Senate will sit from June 11 – 13, 2024, with a possible sitting day on June 14, 2024.
  • Meetings:
    • Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs: The subject matter of Bill C-70, An Act respecting countering foreign interference – June 12, 2024 11:30 AM ET  
    • Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs: The subject matter of Bill C-70, An Act respecting countering foreign interference – June 13, 2024 8:00 AM ET  
  • Bills on the Agenda
    • S-257: An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act (protecting against discrimination based on political belief) – at first reading in the Senate  
    • S-237: An Act to establish the Foreign Influence Registry and to amend the Criminal Code – At second reading in Senate  

House of Commons

• The House of Commons sitting and possible sitting days:  The House of Commons will sit from June 10 – 14, 2024.
  • Meetings:
    • Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs (PROC): Question of Privilege Related to Cyber Attacks Targeting Members of Parliament – Tuesday, June 11, 2024, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  
    • Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage (CHPC): HArms Caused to Children, Women, and Men by the Ease of Access to, and Online Viewing of , Illegal Sexually Explicit Material – Tuesday, June 11, 2024, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.  
    • Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs (PROC): Question of Privilege Related to Cyber Attacks Targeting Members of Parliament – Tuesday, June 13, 2024, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  
  • Bills on the Agenda
    • C-72: An Act respecting the interoperability of health information technology and to prohibit data blocking by health information technology vendors – at first reading in the Senate 

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

• The CRTC is not planning on issuing any decisions, regulatory policies and reports in the week of 10 to 14 June 2024. This is subject to change without notice. 

• Upcoming Hearings
  • June 28, 2023 – Gatineau, Quebec
    To consider the broadcasting applications listed in Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2023-72, View hearing documents (2023-72)                 
  • July 6, 2023 – National Capital Region
    To consider the broadcasting applications listed in Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2023-129, 2023-129-1  View hearing documents (2023-129)
• CRTC Open Broadcasting Proceedings
• CRTC Open Telecom Proceedings

Consultations:

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

·         Call for comments – Co-development of an Indigenous Broadcasting Policy – July 22, 2024 2024-67

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

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