Weekly Newsletter for October 22, 2024

Weekly News (October 22, 2024)

Compiled by Brad McNeil with Sara Bannerman

McMaster University, Communications Governance Observatory

(October 16 – 22, 2024)

Canadian News

• [PUBLIC BROADCASTING] Marie-Philippe Bouchard named next president, CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada (Globe and Mail) 
• [PUBLIC BROADCASTING] CBC chief Catherine Tait resists calls to reject exit cash, including bonuses (Globe and Mail) 
• [ONLINE STREAMING ACT] Spotify is hiking its prices in Canada. Why they say new federal regulations are to blame  (Toronto Star) 
• [FREEDOM OF INFORMATION] Manitoba premier says he will look at revealing more travel expenses (CTV) 
• [TELECOMMUNICATIONS] Why a Corus recapitalization should favour Quebecor over creditors (Globe and Mail) 
• [INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE INCLUSION] Google adds Inuktut to Google Translate, marking first inclusion of a First Nations, Metis or Inuit language from Canada (Globe and Mail)  
• [DEFAMATION/FOREIGN INTERFERENCE] Jordan Peterson says he is considering legal action after Trudeau accused him of taking Russian money (National Post) 
• [TELECOMMUNICATIONS] Toronto is getting a new area code. Here’s what it is and when it will get here (CTV) 
• [PUBLIC BROADCASTING] CBC president Catherine Tait billed for $1,000-a-night hotel to attend Paris Olympics (National Post) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/BIAS] AI can help streamline the hiring process, but getting rid of our biases is not so easy (Financial Post) 
• [PRIVACY] The rules for ‘granny cams’ in long-term care homes are unclear, with both families and staff looking for certainty (Globe and Mail) 
• [PRIVACY] Police board seeks public input on how Hamilton cops will use body-worn cameras (Hamilton Spectator) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/CYBERSECURITY] Artificial intelligence a ‘double-edged sword’ in world of cybersecurity: experts (Globe and Mail) 
• [ONLINE HARMS] OPINION: Jaigris Hodson; Esteban Morales; Kaitlynn Mendes; Yimin Chen: Addressing online gender violence requires both culture and policy change (The Conversation) 
• [TELECOMMUNICATIONS] OPINION: Gregory Taylor & Michael B. McNally: In rural Alberta, the lack of high-speed internet limits economic growth (Globe and Mail) 

International News

• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] Freedom of expression threatened more seriously in Gaza than in any recent conflict, UN expert says  (Globe and Mail) 
• [PLATFORM REGULATION/DISINFORMATION] Russia using generative AI to ramp up disinformation, says Ukraine minister (Reuters) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] AI mediation tool may help reduce culture war rifts, say researchers (The Guardian) 
• [PLATFORM REGULATION] New UK bill could force social media firms to make content less addictive for under 16s (The Guardian) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] Meta releases AI model that can check other AI models’ work (Reuters) 
• [CONTENT MODERATION] Meta’s oversight board seeks public comments on hate speech moderation (Reuters) 
• [CELL PHONE BAN] UK Considers New Smartphone Bans for Children (Wired) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/PRIVACY] ‘It’s not me, it’s just my face’: the models who found their likenesses had been used in AI propaganda (The Guardian) 
• [TECH/POLITICS] How Tech Billionaires Became the G.O.P.’s New Donor Class  (New York Times) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/INDUSTRY ]The $14 Billion Question Dividing OpenAI and Microsoft (Wall Street Journal) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/DATA PRIVACY] X changed its terms of service to let its AI train on everyone’s posts. Now users are up in arms (CNN) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/ELECTIONS] Virginia congressional candidates debate incumbent’s AI – with a few glitches (Reuters) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/ONLINE HARMS] US prosecutors see rising threat of AI-generated child sex abuse imagery (Reuters)  
• [PLATFORM GOVERNANCE/CONTENT MODERATION] TikTok fails a test of its ban on political ads (Washington Post) 
• [MISINFORMATION] Hurricane falsities just one piece of America’s rumor habit  (Washington Post) 
• [TECH/POLITICS] Inside the Harris campaign’s blitz to win back Silicon Valley (Washington Post) 
• [CENSORSHIP] In a huge year for global elections, internet freedom took another hit (Washington Post) 
• [COMPETITION] Are we ready for an internet with no Google search? (Sydney Morning Herald) 
• [PLATFORM GOVERNANCE/CONTENT MODERATION] Everything we know about ‘shadowbans’ on social media  (Washington Post) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] Robot Mimic: You Talkin’ Like Me?  (New York Times) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/DEEPFAKES/ELECTIONS] AI is spawning a flood of fake Trump and Harris voices. Here’s how to tell what’s real.  (Washington Post) 
• ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] Honeywell partners with Google to integrate data with generative AI  (Globe and Mail) 
• [TELECOMMUNICATIONS] Verizon expects capital spending to rise next year on network expansion efforts (Globe and Mail) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/ENVIRONMENT] Tech Firms Are Turning To Reactors  (New York Times) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/ONLINE HARMS] AI-generated child sexual abuse imagery reaching ‘tipping point’, says watchdog (The Guardian) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/COPYRIGHT] ‘Blade Runner 2049’ Producers Sue Elon Musk Over ‘Robotaxi’ Imagery (New York Times) 
• [PRIVACY/CONTENT MODERATION] Facebook owner Meta restarts facial recognition tech in ‘celeb-bait’ crackdown (Reuters) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] Huge AI vulnerability could put human life at risk, researchers warn (Independant) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] TikTok owner sacks intern for sabotaging AI project (BBC) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/MEDIA/COPYRIGHT] New York Times to Bezos-Backed AI Startup: Stop Using Our Stuff (Wall Street Journal) 
• [FREEDOM OF THE PRESS]] Trump Ratchets Up Threats on the Media (New York Times) 
• [DATA PRIVACY] How to stop your data being used in new ways  (Washington Post) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] Microsoft to let clients build AI agents for routine tasks from November (Reuters) 
• [HATE SPEECH] Jewish Students at UCLA Were Harassed, Threatened and Assaulted on Campus, Report Finds (Wall Street Journal) 
• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] OPINION: The Editorial Board: A Reporter’s Shield Law Is Vital to Prevent Abuses of Power  (New York Times) 
• [PLATFORM REGULATION] OPINION: Julia Angwin: Bad News: We’ve Lost Control of Our Social Media Feeds. Good News: Courts Are Noticing.  (New York Times) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] OPINION: Andy Kessler: AI Can’t Teach AI New Tricks (Wall Street Journal) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] OPINION: Dan Gelernter:  Are You Ready for a Brain Chip? It’ll Change Your Mind (Wall Street Journal) 

(October 16 – 22, 2024)

Supreme Court of Canada

• The Supreme Court of Canada heard the following appeal and reserved its decision until a later date.
  • [TELECOMMUNICATIONS] Telus Communications Inc., et al. v. Federation of Canadian Municipalities, et al. (Fed.) (Civil) (By Leave) (40776)  

Federal Court of Appeal 

• [COPYRIGHT]  Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada v. Sirius XM Canada Inc. 

Federal Court

• [PLATFORM REGULATION] Pass Herald Ltd v. Google Llc 

Canadian Heritage 

• Marie-Philippe Bouchard to become the next President and CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada 
• Government of Canada to launch Changing Narratives Fund 

Innovation, Science and Economic development Canada

• Federal government invests to strengthen Canada’s expertise in satellite communications 

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

• News Release:
  • CRTC releases strategic plan to connect Canadians through technology and culture
  • Vicky Eatrides to the Canadian Chapter of the International Institute of Communications  
• Speech:
  • Vicky Eatrides to the Canadian Chapter of the International Institute of Communications  
• Broadcasting and Telecoms:
  • Telecom order 2024-245
    [2024-10-18 11:00:00]
    Streamlined order – The Commission approves on an interim basis the following tariff application: Câblevision du nord de Québec inc., TN 17
  • Telecom order 2024-244
    [2024-10-17 11:00:00]
    Determination of final costs award with respect to the participation of the First Mile Connectivity Consortium in the proceeding initiated by Telecom Notice of Consultation 2022-147 – File numbers: 1011-NOC2022-0147 and 4754-737
  • Telecom order 2024-243
    [2024-10-17 11:00:00]
    Determination of final costs award with respect to the participation of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre in the proceeding initiated by Telecom Notice of Consultation 2022-147 – File numbers: 1011-NOC2022-0147 and 4754-734
  • Telecom order 2024-242
    [2024-10-17 11:00:00]
    Determination of costs award with respect to the participation of the Utilities Consumers’ Group in the proceeding initiated by Telecom Notice of Consultation 2022-147 – File numbers: 1011-NOC2022-0147 and 4754-733
  • Telecom order 2024-241
    [2024-10-17 11:00:00]
    Determination of costs award with respect to the participation of Robert Gary Hopkins in the proceeding initiated by Telecom Notice of Consultation 2022-147 – File numbers: 1011-NOC2022-0147 and 4754-736

Instagram

• Our New Education Campaign to Help Protect Teens From Sextortion Scams 
• Testing New Ways to Combat Scams and Help Restore Access to Compromised Accounts 

Google

• 7 principles for getting AI regulation right 

Microsoft

• Advancing biodiversity with AI 
• Bridging the Digital Divide: Our Enduring Commitment to Global Connectivity 

Senate of Canada

• The Senate sitting and possible sitting days:  The Senate will be sitting from October 22 to 24, with a possible sitting day on October 25, 2024.
  • Meetings:
    • Transport and Communications (TRCM): Study matters relating to transport and communications generally. Topic: Local services provided by the CBC/Radio-Canada – Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at 9:00 AM  
    • Transport and Communications (TRCM): Study matters relating to transport and communications generally. Topic: Local services provided by the CBC/Radio-Canada – Tuesday, October 23, 2024 at 6:45 PM  
  • Bills on the Agenda
    • C-26: An Act respecting cyber security, amending the Telecommunications Act and making consequential amendments to other Acts – At second reading in the Senate  
    • S-269: An Act respecting a national framework on advertising for sports betting – At third reading in the Senate 
    • S-237: An Act to establish the Foreign Influence Registry and to amend the Criminal Code  – At second reading in the Senate

House of Commons

• The House of Commons sitting and possible sitting days:  The House of Commons will be sitting from October 21 – 25, 2024.
  • Meetings
    • Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage (CHPC): Tech Giants’ Use of Intimidation Tactics; Harms Caused by Online Viewing of Illegal Sexually Explicit Material – Wednesday, October 23, 2024, 4:30 to 6:30 pm.   
  • Bills on the Agenda
    • 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 

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

• Anticipated Releases:
  • The CRTC plans to issue the following decisions and/or regulatory policies in the week of 21 to 25 October 2024. This is subject to change without notice.
    • Broadcasting Decision 
• Nunavut Independent Television Network – Across Canada
• Inuit TV Network – Across Canada
• Uvagut TV – Licensing of a national, Inuit-language discretionary service, and mandatory distribution of the service across Canada
• Inuit TV – Licensing of a national, Inuit-language discretionary service Public records: 2021-0527-0 and 2023-0064-8

• Upcoming Hearings
  • November 20, 2024 – Gatineau, Quebec
    To consider the broadcasting applications listed in Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2023-138, 2023-138-1 and 2023-138-2, View hearing documents (2023-138)
• 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

·         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 24, 2024) 

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

·         Share your thoughts on the guidelines for consultations relating to official language minority communities and official languages- Deadline: October 9, 2024 (November 8, 2024  for members of official language minority communities) 

·         Share your thoughts about described video and audio description: Second consultation period – September 19 to November 20, 2024  

·         Consultation on closed captioning of programming from online streaming services: second consultation period from September 10 to November 13, 2024  

·         Share your thoughts on the proposed code of conduct for bargaining under the Online News Act: End Date – November 7, 2024 

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

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