Weekly Newsletter for June 18, 2024

Weekly News (June 18, 2024)

Compiled by Brad McNeil with Sara Bannerman

McMaster University, Communications Governance Observatory

(June 12 – 18, 2024)

Canadian News

• [ONLINE NEWS ACT] Clear rules urged for doling out Google’s $100M fund; News publishers leery of chosen organization  (National Post) 
• [ONLINE STREAMING ACT] Foreign music streamers appeal to heritage minister to intervene over Bill C-11 payments (Globe and Mail) 
• [ONLINE STREAMING ACT] Why did the CRTC forget that Canadian films exist? (Globe and Mail) 
• [ONLINE HARMS ACT] Establishing new regulator for online harms law ‘will take some time,’ minister says (Globe and Mail) 
• [TELECOMMUNICATIONS] Cellphone plan prices, satellite connectivity highlight opening day of telecom summit (CityNews) 
• [TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPETITION/ADVERTISING] Bell closes deal to buy Outfront Media’s Canadian operations, must sell 669 ad spaces as a condition (Globe and Mail) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/ONLINE NEWS ACT/MEDIA] AI chatbots use Canadian news, but Ottawa won’t say if they should be paying for it (CityNews) 
• [CYBERSECURITY] B.C. premier urges PM to provide foreign interference information to protect province (Globe and Mail) 
• [DATA PRIVACY]  How Meta’s AI systems are using your data and why opting out is not so simple  (Toronto Star) 
• [PRIVACY]  ‘Our base hates the idea’: Insiders say politics and privacy concerns halted Doug Ford’s promise to put drivers’ licences and health cards on digital wallets  (Toronto Star) 
• [CYBERSECURITY] ‘It’s not acceptable’: MPs say government kept them in the dark about cyberattacks (National Post) 
• [PUBLIC BROADCASTING]  The Liberals and Conservatives are fighting over CBC’s NHL playoffs coverage. Here’s what’s actually going on  (Toronto Star) 
• [CYBERATTACK]  TDSB says police notified after school testing system was targeted in ransomware attack  (Toronto Star) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/CYBERATTACK]  Voice-changing AI used in Norfolk emergency scam, police say  (Hamilton Spectator) 
• [MEDIA LAYOFFS]  Global News laying off dozens of employees across the country  (Toronto Star) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE]  McMaster researcher warns AI could discriminate against people with disabilities instead of help them  (Hamilton Spectator) 
• [CAMPUS PROTEST/FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION]  Is the clock ticking on U of T’s polarizing encampment? How protesters and the university each see their fight  (Toronto Star) 
• [CAMPUS PROTEST/FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] McGill University ends negotiations with pro-Palestinian encampment, will pursue disciplinary action (Globe and Mail) 
• [CULTURAL FUNDING] OPINION: William Watson: Stop subsidizing what people don’t watch (Financial Post) 
• [ONLINE NEWS ACT] OPINION: Maria Saras-Voutsinas & Joe Volpe:  A new law is meant to put money into newsrooms. We need rules to make sure that happens  (Toronto Star) 
• [ELECTIONS] OPINION: Editorial Board: Political parties need to step up and fight foreign interference (Globe and Mail) 
• [COMMUNICATIONS INCLUSIVITY] OPINION: Paula Bath:  Canada must make communication more inclusive for deaf people (The Conversation) 

International News

• [CENSORSHIP] Myanmar’s embattled military government cracks down on free flow of news by blocking VPNs (Globe and Mail) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/REGULATION] ANALYSIS-EU’s new AI rules ignite battle over data transparency  (Reuters) 
• [PRIVACY] Alphabet hit with Austrian privacy complaint over alleged browser tracking (Reuters)
• [PLATFORM REGULATION] U.S. appeals court to hear challenges to potential TikTok ban on Sept. 16  (Globe and Mail) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/PRIVACY] Meta pauses AI models launch in Europe due to Irish request (Reuters) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/REGULATION] States Take Up A.I. Regulation Amid Federal Standstill  (New York Times)
• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION/CAMPUS PROTESTS] For Campus Protesters in Brussels, Familiar Methods, but Different Outcomes  (New York Times) 
• [PLATFORM REGULATION/LAWSUIT] U.S. Sues Adobe Over Hard-to-Cancel Subscriptions (New York Times) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/COMPETITION] Elon Musk abruptly withdraws lawsuit against Sam Altman and OpenAI (The Guardian) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY] Artists are fleeing Instagram to keep their work out of Meta’s AI (Washington Post) 
• [CYBERSECURITY] Microsoft president to testify before U.S. House panel over security lapses  (Globe and Mail) 
• [CONTENT MODERATION/MISINFORMATION] Fake News Still Flows On Facebook  (New York Times)
• [ONLINE MARKETS/REGULATION] California lawmakers fast-track bill that would require online sellers to verify their identity (ABC News) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/PLATFORM REGULATION] Elon Musk and the SEC Are on a Collision Course Again (Wall Street Journal) 
• [HATE SPEECH] Texas politician accused of creating Facebook profile to send himself hate messages (USA Today) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] An AI Bot Is (Sort of) Running for Mayor in Wyoming (Wired) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/MEDIA] Global audiences suspicious of AI-powered newsrooms, report finds (Reuters) 
• [PLATFORM GOVERNANCE/MISINFORMATION] YouTube tests context ‘notes’ feature for videos  (Globe and Mail) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE REGULATION/LAWSUIT/PRIVACY] A.I. Start-Up To Settle Suit By Providing Equity Stake  (New York Times) 
• [ONLINE HARMS/PLATFORM REGULATION] Tobacco-like warning label for social media sought by US surgeon general who asks Congress to act (Globe and Mail) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/MISINFORMATION] Voice assistants and AI chatbots still can’t say who won the 2020 election (Washington Post) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/ELECTIONS] Tech workers use corporate advertising tricks to register would-be voters  (Washington Post) 
• [MEDIA OWNERSHIP]  Jeff Bezos is facing a dilemma as ethical questions surrounding The Washington Post publisher grow louder  (CNN) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] The Big AI Question: Are You Ready to Pay for It? Consumers who are tempted to upgrade will find higher prices for new AI-powered gadgets—and new subscription fees to access their full capabilities  (Wall Street Journal) 
• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] Confederate names inflame fissures  (Washington Post) 
• [CONTENT REGULATION/ADVERTISING] At X Staff Meetings, Executives Talk Up Return of Advertisers  (New York Times) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/DEEPFAKES/PLATFORM REGULATION] Big Tech’s voluntary approach to deepfakes isn’t enough, top U.S. cyberdefense official says  (Washington Post) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] AI took their jobs. Now they get paid to make it sound human (BBC) 
• [ONLINE HARMS/CONTENT MODERATION] AI to erase abusive posts to athletes at Paris Olympics-IOC (Reuters) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/CYBERSECURITY]  OpenAI adds Trump-appointed former NSA director to its board  (Washington Post) 
• [PRIVACY] License plate cameras help solve crimes, but are creating a backlash over privacy concerns  (Chicago Tribune] 
• [CONTENT MODERATION/LAWSUIT/ONLINE HARMS] Lawsuits claim PornHub, Visa and hedge funds profited from child abuse (Reuters) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/MISINFORMATION] 
• [CYBERATTACK] Criminals likely stole personal information in Ascension cyberattack, health care system says  (Chicago Tribune) 
• [DATA PRIVACY] Data privacy will be on the ballot in November elections  (Washington Post) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] 
• [CENSORSHIP/FREE PRESS/DEFAMATION] OPINION: Adam Ganucheau: Mississippi Opens the Playbook for Dismantling a Free Press (New York Times)
• [COMPETITION] OPINION: Mark Lemley & Matt Wansley: How Big Tech Is Killing Innovation (New York TImes) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/SEARCH RECOMMENDERS] OPINION: Blayne Haggart:  Google’s use of AI to power search shows its problematic approach to organizing information (The Conversation) 

(June 12 – 18, 2024)

Competition Bureau Canada

• Competition Bureau continues its investigation into Amazon’s marketing practices 

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

• News Release:
  • Government of Canada launches consultation to expand wireless services via satellites 
  • Expanding high-speed Internet access in Alberta  
  • Connecting communities in the B.C. Interior 
• Media Advisory:
  • Minister Champagne to participate in a discussion at the Canadian Telecom Summit 
• Backgrounder:
  • Backgrounder: Governments of Canada and British Columbia to bring high-speed Internet access to communities in British Columbia 

Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada 

• 2023-2024 Annual Report – Upholding the right of access: a matter of safeguarding the public trust  

Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada

• Speech: 
  •  Remarks at the PICCASO Canada Privacy Awards Gala 
• Announcement:
  • New Privacy and Human Rights Award celebrates leadership in privacy and other fundamental rights worldwide  
• Article:
  • Recognizing privacy in support of other fundamental rights 

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

• Broadcasting and Telecoms
  • Broadcasting decision 2024-134
    [2024-06-18 11:00:00]
    Harvest Ministries Sudbury – Cochrane, Ontario – Application to change the ownership and control of the English-language low power commercial specialty (Religious music) FM radio station CFCJ-FM Cochrane
  • Broadcasting decision 2024-133
    [2024-06-18 11:00:00]
    Rogers Communications Inc. – Across Canada – Fulfilment of conditions of approval set out in Shaw Communications Inc. – Change of ownership and effective control
  • Broadcasting decision 2024-132
    [2024-06-18 11:00:00]
    Corus Radio Inc. – Calgary and Banff, Alberta – Application to renew the broadcasting licences for the English-language commercial radio stations CFGQ-FM Calgary and its transmitter CFGQ-FM-2 Banff
  • Telecom order 2024-131
    [2024-06-12 11:00:00]
    CoopTel, coop de télécommunication – Change to General Tariff – Municipal tax increase – Public record: 8740-C41-202401313
  • Telecom order 2024-130
    [2024-06-12 11:00:00]
    Bell Canada – Tariff Notices 7676 and 7676A – Introduction of new speed tiers for Disaggregated Broadband Service (DBS) – Public record: Tariff Notices 7676 and 7676A
  • Telecom decision 2024-129
    [2024-06-12 11:00:00]
    TerreStar Solutions Inc. – Application to review and vary Telecom Decision 2023-182 – Public record: 8662-T133-202305119

The TechLobby 

·         2023 TechLobby Annual Report 

Amazon

• AWS’s head of security shares 7 reasons why security will always be Amazon’s top priority 

Google 

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

Apple

•  Apple extends its privacy leadership with new updates across its platforms 

Meta

•  Releasing New AI Research Models to Accelerate Innovation at Scale  

Microsoft

• Microsoft’s work to strengthen cybersecurity protection 

YouTube

• Testing new ways to offer viewers more context and information on videos 

Federal Court of Canada

• [ACCESS TO INFORMATION] Canada (Public Services and Procurement) v. Canada (Information Commissioner) – (Dismissed) – June 17, 2024   

Senate of Canada

• The Senate sitting and possible sitting days:  The Senate will sit from June 17 – 20, 2024, with a possible sitting day on June 21, 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 18, 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  
    • S-261: An Act respecting non-disclosure agreements – 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 June 17 – 21, 2024.
  • Meetings:
    • Standing Committee on Public Accounts (PACP): Report 1, ArriveCAN, of the 2024 Reports of the Auditor General of Canada – Tuesday , June 18, 2024, 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.  
    • Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage (CHPC): Bill C-354, An Act to amend the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission Act (Quebec’s cultural distinctiveness and French-speaking communities)  
  • Bills on the Agenda
    • Bill C-65: An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act – at second reading in the Senate 

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

• The CRTC plans to issue the following decisions and/or regulatory policies in the week of 17 to 21 June 2024. This is subject to change without notice.
  • Corus Radio Inc.
    Calgary and Banff, Alberta – CHQR Calgary, and CFGQ-FM Calgary and its transmitter CFGQ-FM-2 Banff – Licence renewal – Public record: 2022-0653-1 and 2022-0657-3
  • Comité de la radio communautaire Huronne-Wyandot inc.
    Wendake, Quebec – Indigenous FM radio station in Wendak – Public record: 2023-0522-6
  • Harvest Ministries Sudbury
    Cochrane, Ontario
    CFCJ-FM Cochrane – Change in ownership and control –Public record: 2023-0480-7
  • Rogers Communications Inc.
    Across Canada
    Fulfilment of conditions of approval set out in Shaw Communications Inc. – Change of ownership and effective control – Public record: 2023-0275-1

• 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)
  • September 14, 2023 – National Capital Region
    To consider the broadcasting applications listed in Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2023-206, View hearing documents (2023-206)
• CRTC Open Broadcasting Proceedings
• CRTC Open Telecom Proceedings

Consultations:

Spectrum Management Consultations

•  Consultation on a Policy, Licensing and Technical Framework for Supplemental Mobile Coverage by Satellite  – Closing date for comments: September 13, 2024. Closing date for reply to comments: October 25, 2024

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

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

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