Weekly Newsletter for August 20, 2024

Weekly News (August 20, 2024)

Compiled by Brad McNeil with Sara Bannerman

McMaster University, Communications Governance Observatory

(August 14 – 20, 2024)

Canadian News

• [TELECOMMUNICATIONS] Rogers says Corus’s business model ‘broken’ after being accused of ‘predatory’ action (Financial Post) 
• [TELECOMMUNICATIONS] CRTC expands policy directing certain telecom giants to offer fibre access to rivals  (Globe and Mail) 
• [TELECOMMUNICATIONS/LAWSUIT] Corus files CRTC complaint against Rogers alleging it has ‘weaponized’ its media dominance (Globe and Mail) 
• [PUBLIC BROADCASTING] Ottawa still mulling over bonus for CEO of CBC, but won’t make decision public (Toronto Star) 
• [MEDIA/ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] Technology has helped The Globe adapt for 180 years, but also brings new threats to its doorstep (Globe and Mail) 
• [FREEDOM OF INFORMATION] How transparent is your city? Audit of freedom of information requests finds vast differences (Globe and Mail) 
• [ONLINE STREAMING ACT] Can Canadian songwriters survive? As their income plummets to poverty levels, many find themselves making tough choices  (Toronto Star) 
• [CYBER ATTACK]  Hamilton cyberattack costs hit $7.4 million (Hamilton Spectator) 
• [PRIVACY] CBSA to use facial recognition app for people facing deportation: documents (CBC) 
• [CELLPHONE BAN] Rollout of Alberta’s school cellphone ban raising concerns among teachers  (Toronto Star) 
• [ONLINE HARMS] OPINION: Justin Ling:  Elon Musk’s hellsite isn’t making us fall for Pierre Poilievre. It’s doing something far scarier  (Toronto Star) 
• [INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY] OPINION: Alex Greco: What a ‘patent box’ is and why it can help solve Canada’s productivity problem (Globe and Mail) 
• [ONLINE HARMS ACT/ONLINE NEWS ACT] OPINION: John Ibbitson: With human rights chief debacle, the Liberals continue their string of blunders (Globe and Mail) 
• [ANTITRUST] OPINION: Keldon Bester: Why Canadians should celebrate Google antitrust decision  (Toronto Star) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] OPINION: Editorial Board: The magic act of generative AI is fading fast  (Globe and Mail) 
• [ONLINE NEWS ACT] OPINION: Dean Ridings: The price we pay for ‘Googling it’ (National Post) 

International News

• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE REGULATION] A California Bill to Regulate A.I. Causes Alarm in Silicon Valley (New York Times) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE REGULATION] California A.I. Bill Is Amended; Vote Is Expected by End of August (New York Times) 
• [COMPETITION/ONLINE ADS] Britain’s competition watchdog accepts Meta’s changes to ad data rules (Globe and Mail) 
• [ONLINE HARMS] UK riots spurred by racist posts on social media. Experts warn US. | The Excerpt (USA Today) 
• [CONTENT MODERATION/PLATFORM REGULATION] Elon Musk Closes X Office in Brazil Over Fight With Judge (New York Times) 
• [INTERNET POLICY/CENSORSHIP] Pakistan’s internet firewall could cost economy $300 million, association says (Reuters) 
• [SURVEILLANCE] Cellphones, Laptops, AI: How Israel Gathers Intelligence on Hostages (Wall Street Journal) 
• [ONLINE ADVERTISING REGULATION] FTC bans fake online reviews, inflated social media influence; rule takes effect in October (CNBC) 
• [PLATFORM REGULATION] TikTok disputes US claims on China ties in court appeal (Reuters) 
• [PLATFORM GOVERNANCE/DISINFORMATION] ChatGPT bans multiple accounts linked to Iranian operation creating false news reports (USA Today) 
• [ONLINE HARMS/PLATFORM REGULATION] Federal court upholds block on California child online safety law (Washington Post) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/DEEPFAKES] San Francisco Moves to Lead Fight Against Deepfake Nudes (New York Times) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/DEEPFAKES] Trump’s mysterious X promos show the limits of digital ad transparency ; Details about Trump’s arrangement with Musk’s X to promote their talk remain scant.  (Washington Post) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/DEEPFAKES/ELECTIONS] See why AI detection tools can fail to catch election deepfakes (Washington Post) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/DEEPFAKES] Trump’s AI fakes of Harris and Swift aren’t meant to fool you (Washington Post) 
• [PLATFORM REGULATION] How Democrats’ party platform has shifted on tech policy (Washington Post) 
• [ONLINE HARMS] What to know about Olympic boxer Imane Khelif’s cyberbullying complaint (Washington Post) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/ONLINE HARMS] Noxious images spread after Elon Musk launches AI tool with few guardrails (Washington Post) 
• [ELECTIONS/DISINFORMATION] Elections Officials Battle a Deluge of Disinformation (New York Times) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/DEEPFAKES] Trump falsely implies Taylor Swift endorses him (BBC) 
• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION/CAMPUS PROTESTS] Suspension of most Columbia students disciplined over Gaza protests is removed (Reuters) 
• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION/CAMPUS PROTESTS] The New Rules Governing Student Conduct at Colleges Across the Country (Wall Street Journal) 
• [DISINFORMATION] OPINION: Editorial Board: From Iran and Russia, the disinformation is now. The target is America. (Washington post) 

(August 14 – 20, 2024)

Federal Court of Appeal

• [TELECOMMUNICATIONS/COPYRIGHT] Rovi Guides, Inc. v. Telus Corporation 
• [TELECOMMUNICATIONS/COPYRIGHT] Rovi Guides, Inc. v. Videotron Ltd. 

Federal Court of Canada 

• [COMPETITION] Lin v. Uber Canada Inc. 

Competition Bureau Canada

• Competition Bureau seeks feedback on competitor property controls guidance 

Canadian Heritage 

• News Release:
  • The Force of language: the Government of Canada contributes to the adaptation of Star Wars to Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe) 
  • Government of Canada strengthens its support for official language minority communities  

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

• News Release:
  • CRTC takes action to bring Canadians more choice and lower prices for high-speed Internet 
• Regulatory Policies:
  • Competition in Canada’s Internet service markets 
• Broadcasting and Telecoms
  • Broadcasting notice of consultation 2024-143-2
    [2024-08-19 16:00:00]
    Call for comments – Application for exemption from the Online News Act by Google – Extension to the deadline to file replies and addition of two replies to the record of the proceeding – New deadline for submission of replies: 26 August 2024
  • Broadcasting notice of consultation 2024-182
    [2024-08-15 11:00:00]
    Notice of hearing – 5 November 2024 – Gatineau, Quebec – Show Cause proceeding – Gill Broadcasting Ltd. – Deadline for submission of interventions/comments/answers: 16 September 2024
  • Telecom order 2024-181
    [2024-08-15 11:00:00]
    Determination of costs award with respect to the participation of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre in the proceedings initiated by Bell Canada and Goldblatt Partners LLP – File numbers: 8633-G110-202306480, 8633-G110-202402809, and 4754-742
  • Telecom regulatory policy 2024-180
    [2024-08-13 11:00:00]
    Competition in Canada’s Internet service markets – Public record: 1011-NOC2023-0056

Google

• Iranian backed group steps up phishing campaigns against Israel, U.S.

OpenAI

• Disrupting a covert Iranian influence operation  

TikTok 

• TikTok Files Reply Brief on Unconstitutional Ban 

Senate of Canada

• The Senate sitting and possible sitting days:  The Senate will not be sitting the week of August 19-23, 2024. The next scheduled sitting day is September 17, 2024.

House of Commons

• The House of Commons sitting and possible sitting days:  The House of Commons will not be sitting the week of August 19-23, 2024. The next scheduled sitting day is September 16, 2024.

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

• Anticipated releases for the week of 19 to 23 August 2024:
  • The CRTC is not planning on issuing any decisions, regulatory policies and reports in the week of 19 to 23 August 2024. This is subject to change without notice.
• Upcoming Hearings
  • 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

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

• Right to Repair Consultation – Closing date for comments: September 26, 2024. 
• Consultation on Artificial Intelligence (AI) Compute – Closing date for comments: September 6, 2024  
• Consultation on a Policy, Licensing and Technical Framework for Supplemental Mobile Coverage by Satellite – closing date for comments: September 13, 2024 

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

• Call for comments on the Independent Local News Fund – Deadline for submission of comments: 6 September 2024 

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