Weekly Newsletter for September 17, 2024

Weekly News (September 17, 2024)

Compiled by Brad McNeil with Sara Bannerman

McMaster University, Communications Governance Observatory

(September 11 – 17,  2024)

Canadian News

• [PLATFORM REGULATION] Federal Court of Appeal sides with privacy watchdog in long-running Facebook case (CBC) 
• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION/ONLINE HARMS] Social media comments blocked: Montreal mayor says she won’t accept vulgar slurs (CTV News) 
• [PLATFORM REGULATION/DIGITAL SERVICE TAX] 
• [ONLINE HARMS BILL] Liberals face race against the clock to pass dozens of bills as Parliament returns  (Globe and Mail) 
• [FOREIGN INTERFERENCE] Canadian right-wing influencer’s alleged dealings with Russian media company took place despite sanctions (Globe and Mail) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE REGULATION]  AI companies say their tools can’t be used for political interference. Here’s what happened when researchers tried  (Toronto Star) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/COMPETITION] As GenAI hype cools down, tech competitiveness heats up (Globe and Mail) 
• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] TIFF to screen controversial documentary Russians at War after halting shows amid protest (Globe and Mail) 
• [MILITARY/ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE]  Canada working on military AI, Blair says as he endorses international agreement  (Financial Post) 
• [FOREIGN INTERFERENCE] Foreign-interference inquiry resumes with focus on targeting of MPs, how system can be fixed (Globe and Mail) 
• [HATE SPEECH/FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] Teacher files wrongful termination suit; Woman claims she was fired after showing video about Israel-Hamas conflict to Grade 8 class  (Toronto Star) 
• [BROADCASTING/INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES] APTN launches all-Indigenous languages TV channel (CBC) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] Revolution, interrupted  One of the promises of machine learning was better drugs, faster. A decade in, AI has failed to live up to the hype (Globe and Mail) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] OPINION: David Weitzner:  Governments need to focus on AI’s real impact, not get caught up in the hype generated by Big Tech (The Conversation) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] OPINION: Jeff Schwartzentruber: AI may be a powerful tool, but it’s no substitute for cyber experts  (Toronto Star) 
• [TELECOMMUNICATIONS] OPINION: Andrew Willis: Telecom competition heats up in Central Canada (Globe and Mail) 
• [EMERGENCY BROADCASTS] OPINION: Lili Liu, Adebusola Adekoya and Antonio Miguel Cruz: Canada needs a national Silver Alert program for older adults (Globe and Mail) 
• [ONLINE HARMS] OPINION: Katherine Martinko: Want kids to be safe? Then ditch their smartphones(Globe and Mail) 
• [ONLINE HARMS] OPINION: Elaine Craig: Age-verification laws won’t protect kids from porn – and they could even make things worse (Globe and Mail) 
• [CENSORSHIP/FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] OPINION: Andrew Phillips: Suppression of “Russians at War’ documentary is shameful  (Toronto Star) 

International News

• [PLATFORM GOVERNANCE/CONTENT MODERATION] Meta bans RT and other Russian state media networks (Reuters) 
• [PLATFORM GOVERNANCE] The EU is losing two titans of tech regulation, testing its resolve ; Thierry Breton and Margrethe Vestager, architects of the bloc’s digital rulebook, are departing at a critical juncture. (Washington Post) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/PRIVACY] Meta to start using public posts on Facebook, Instagram in UK to train AI (Reuters) 
• [PLATFORM REGULATION/MISINFORMATION] Australia threatens fines for social media giants enabling misinformation (Reuters) 
• [DATA PRIVACY] Meta admits Australians cannot opt out of ‘predatory’ AI data scrape (Sydney Morning Herald) 
• [CENSORSHIP] China wants academic exchange but historians say increased censorship makes research hard (Reuters) 
• [PLATFORM REGULATION/ENERGY] Big Tech fights plan to pay more for electric grid upgrades  (Washington Post) 
• [INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY] An Australian company now owns one-third of Canada’s patent law market, drawing concern over conflicts of interest (Globe and Mail) 
• [MEDIA/CYBERINTELLIGENCE] Putin using media firm for covert operations  (Washington Post) 
• [ONLINE HARMS] How Telegram Became a Playground for Criminals, Extremists and Terrorists  (New York Times) 
• [COMPETITION] Google’s Breakup Is Starting to Get Priced In (Wall Street Journal) 
• [DATA BREACH/LAWSUIT] 23andMe settles data breach lawsuit for $30 million (Reuters) 
• [CENSORSHIP] Dejected Social Media Users Call ‘Garbage Time’ Over China’s Ailing Economy (New York Times) 
• [ELECTION/FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] FCC chair rebuffs Trump’s post-debate call to strip ABC’s license (Washington Post) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE REGULATION] Tech, US officials discuss AI development, power needs at White House (Reuters) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE REGULATION/LOBBYING] The AI industry uses a light lobbying touch to educate Congress from a corporate perspective (Financial Post) 
• [PLATFORM REGULATION] Judges Show Some Skepticism of TikTok’s Fight Against Potential U.S. Ban (New York Times) 
• [PLATFORM GOVERNANCE/ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] OpenAI’s safety committee to oversee security practices as an independent body (Reuters) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE REGULATION] A.I. Pioneers Call for Protections Against ‘Catastrophic Risks’  (New York Times) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE REGULATION] AI experts ready ‘Humanity’s Last Exam’ to stump powerful tech (Reuters) 
• [DATA CENTERS] Data centers are everywhere. What it’s like to work in one.  (Washington Post) 
• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] As semester starts, college protesters confront more rules  (Washington Post)
• [CLOUD COMPUTING/INDUSTRY] Oracle Turns Rivals Into Partners In Pursuit of Cloud Ambitions (Wall Street Journal) 
• [ONLINE HARMS/PLATFORM GOVERNANCE]  Instagram, Facing Pressure Over Child Safety Online, Unveils Sweeping Changes  (New York Times) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] OpenAI launches new series of AI models with ‘reasoning’ abilities (Reuters) 
• [DISINFORMATION/ELECTIONS] Elon Musk’s misleading election claims reach millions and alarm election officials (Washington Post) 

(September 11 – 17,  2024)

Federal Court of Appeal 

• The Federal Court of Appeal dismissed the following cases:
  • [PRIVACY] Canada (Privacy Commissioner) v. Facebook, Inc. 
  • [MEDIA] Macciacchera (Smoothstreams.tv) v. Bell Media Inc. 

Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada

•  Information Commissioner’s appearance before the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance  

Copyright Board of Canada

• Copyright Board of Canada joins Canadian Digital Regulators Forum 

Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada

•  Statement by the Privacy Commissioner welcoming the Federal Court of Appeal’s decision on Facebook 
• Privacy Commissioner appears before Standing Senate Committee on National Finance on Main Estimates 

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

• Government of Canada makes a contribution to Canadian AI company to advance digital experiences for enterprises  

Global Affairs Canada

• Statement by Minister Joly on Russian interference 

Competition Bureau

• Canada’s Competition Summit 2024 
• Copyright Board of Canada joins Canadian Digital Regulators Forum 

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

• Speech:
  • Vicky Eatrides to the Rencontres de l’Association québécoise de l’industrie du disque, du spectacle et de la vidéo 
• Broadcasting and Telecoms:
  • Telecom order 2024-212
    [2024-09-17 11:00:00]
    Determination of Costs Award – Determination of costs award with respect to the participation of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Coalition in the proceeding initiated by the filing of the Canadian Administrator of VRS (CAV), Inc. proposed 2024 annual budget – File numbers: 8665-C209-202304814 and 4754-721
  • Telecom order 2024-211
    [2024-09-17 11:00:00]
    Determination of Costs Award – Determination of costs award with respect to the participation of the Canada Deaf Grassroots Movement in the proceeding initiated by the filing of the Canadian Administrator of VRS (CAV), Inc. proposed 2024 annual budget – File numbers: 8665-C209-202304814 and 4754-720
  • Telecom order 2024-210
    [2024-09-16 11:00:00]
    Streamlined order – The Commission approves on an interim basis the following tariff application: Télébec, Société en commandite, TN 556
  • Telecom order 2024-209
    [2024-09-16 11:00:00]
    Streamlined order – The Commission approves on an interim basis the following tariff application: Bell MTS, a division of Bell Canada, TN 865
  • Telecom order 2024-208
    [2024-09-12 11:00:00]
    Streamlined order – The Commission approves the following tariff application: Northwestel Inc., TN 1223
  • Telecom order 2024-207
    [2024-09-12 11:00:00]
    Saskatchewan Telecommunications – Tariff Notice 381 – Addition of Local Service Request (LSR) Rejection Charge – Public record: 8740-S22-202402527
  • Telecom order 2024-206
    [2024-09-11 11:00:00]
    Streamlined order – The Commission approves on an interim basis the following tariff application: Northwestel Inc., TN 1227

Google

• How we’re increasing transparency for gen AI content with the C2PA 

Meta

•  Introducing Instagram Teen Accounts: Built-In Protections for Teens, Peace of Mind for Parents  
•  Preventing Suicide and Self-Harm Content Spreading Online  

OpenAI

• An update on our safety & security practices 

Senate of Canada

• The Senate sitting and possible sitting days:  The Senate will be sitting from  September 17 – 19, with a possible sitting day on September 20, 2024.

House of Commons

• The House of Commons sitting and possible sitting days:  The House of Commons will be sitting the week of September 16 – 20, 2024. 

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

• Anticipated releases for the week of 16 to 20 September 2024:
  • The CRTC plans to issue the following decisions and/or regulatory policies in the week of 16 to 20 September 2024. This is subject to change without notice.
    • Broadcasting Decision: 
• The Miracle Channel Association
  Across Canada
  Corco – Licensing of a national, English-language discretionary service – Finalization of conditions of service
  Public record: 2023-0248-8
• Telecom Decision
• Bell Canada – Tariff Notice 7692 – Introduction of Service Provided in Out-of-Footprint Territory
  Public record: 8740-B2-202209345
• 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)
  • November 20, 2023 – 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

• Right to Repair Consultation – Closing date for comments: September 26, 2024. 
• Consultation on Artificial Intelligence (AI) Compute – Closing date for comments: September 6, 2024  
• Improving Indigenous Access to Spectrum: Draft Indigenous Priority Window Spectrum Policy Framework – Closing date for comments: October 1, 2024 
• 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) 

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

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