Weekly Newsletter for August 20, 2024

Posted on August 30, 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

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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