Weekly Newsletter for November 19, 2024

Weekly News (November 19, 2024)

Compiled by Brad McNeil with Sara Bannerman

McMaster University, Communications Governance Observatory

(November 13 – 19, 2024)
Canadian News

• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE REGULATION] Canada launches AI safety institute to study technology’s risks (Globe and Mail) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/ONLINE STREAMING ACT]  Can AI be Cancon? CRTC launches review of Canadian content definition  (Toronto Star)  
• [TELECOMMUNICATIONS/COMPETITION] Ottawa orders CRTC review of Rogers, Bell and Telus reselling services on each other’s networks  (Globe and Mail) 
• [ONLINE STREAMING ACT/CONSULTATION] CRTC launches public consultation to review what is Canadian content (Globe and Mail) 
• [TELECOMMUNICATIONS]  Elon Musk, telecom disrupter? How Starlink’s $92-million Ontario internet deal could open the door to a new competitor  (Toronto Star) 
• [PRIVACY;FREEDOM OF THE PRESS] Canadian-born journalist at center of U.S. press freedom legal battle after refusing to identify source (Globe and Mail) 
• [INDIGENOUS JOURNALISM/BROADCASTING] New Distribution Approval Will Expand Station to 10 Million Subscribers (Turtle Island News) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE]  The head of Google Canada on regulating AI, a sometimes frightening future and earning users’ trust  (Toronto Star) 
• [ONLINE HARMS]  N.S. legal scholar’s book describes ‘mainstream’ porn’s rise, and the price women pay (Toronto Star) 
• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] Anti-abortion activists challenge Quebec law forcing protesters to keep distance (Global News) 
• [BROADCASTING] PWHL announces Canadian broadcast plans, Prime Video as new partner (Globe and Mail) 
• [E-COMMERCE REGULATION] Shopify Unfazed by Trump’s Win (Hamilton Spectator) 
• [PRIVACY] OPINION: Sara Bannerman:  10 privacy violations in the federal government’s proposed changes to the Canada Elections Act (The Conversation) 
• [PLATFORM REGULATION]  OPINION: Robert Diab: The reasons for shutting down TikTok in Canada appear tenuous at best (The Conversation) 
• [CONTENT MODERATION/BIAS] OPINION: Neil Seeman & Jeff Ballabon: Wikipedia has it out for Israel, and we’ve got the data to prove it (National Post) 
• [HATE SPEECH] OPINION: Margaret Shkimba: A strong, unified voice against hate is needed in Hamilton  (Hamilton Spectator) 
• [HATE SPEECH] OPINION: Ameil J. Joseph: Work to be done in fight against racism  (Hamilton Spectator) 

International News

• [ARTIFICIAL Intelligence] China’s Xi tells G20 Summit AI should not be a ‘game of rich countries,’ Xinhua reports (Reuters) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] Trump set to deepen tech Cold War with China (Washington Post) 
• [ONLINE HARMS/PLATFORM REGULATION] Inside Big Tech’s Bid to Sink the Online Kid Safety Bill (Wall Street Journal) 
• [CENSORSHIP] Mass Attacks in China Prompt Censorship, Clampdown on Mourning (Wall Street Journal) 
• [PLATFORM REGULATION] New tech requires rulebook revamp, says S.Africa’s communications regulator (Reuters) 
• [DATA PRIVACY] FTC’s Holyoak concerned AI collecting children’s data (Reuters) 
• [SURVEILLANCE/PRIVACY/ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] Spy Agency Memo Sets Rules for Artificial Intelligence and Americans’ Private Data (New York Times) 
• [COMPETITION/PLATFORM REGULATION] Antitrust Enforcers Prepare Final Blitz Against Big Tech (Wall Street Journal) 
• [PLATFORM GOVERNANCE/CENSORSHIP] Trump Picks Brendan Carr as FCC Chair. He Vows to Challenge a Big Tech Cartel. (Wall Street Journal) 
• [PLATFORM REGULATION] Trump expected to try to halt TikTok ban, allies say (Washington Post) 
• [LAWSUIT/PLATFORM REGULATION] Musk expands legal assault on OpenAI to also target Microsoft (Washington Post) 
• [PLATFORM GOVERNANCE] Silicon Valley eyes a windfall from Trump’s plans to gut regulation (Washington Post) 
• [COMPETITION/PLATFORM REGULATION] The FTC is preparing to investigate Microsoft’s cloud business (Washington Post) 
• [PRIVACY] Australian hardware chain Bunnings breached privacy with facial recognition tool, regulator says  (Reuters) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] Homeland Security Department to Release New A.I. Guidance (New York Times) 
• [PRIVACY/LAWSUIT] FTC antitrust case against Meta can move to trial, court rules (Washington Post) 
• [PLATFORM REGULATION] Liberals are fleeing X again — this time for Bluesky (Washington Post) 
• [PLATFORM GOVERNANCE] How Bluesky, Alternative to X and Facebook, Is Handling Explosive Growth (New York Times) 
• [ALTERNATIVE PLATFORM] What is Bluesky? Social media app seeing rising popularity after election (USA Today) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE REGULATION]  Trump pledged to gut Biden’s AI rules, as OpenAI eyes landmark infusion  (Washington Post) 
• [TELECOMMUNICATIONS] Trump vs. Media Moves Back to the White House (Wall Street Journal) 
• [HATE SPEECH/CONTENT MODERATION] German soccer club St Pauli quits X platform over alleged hate speech (Reuters) 
• [DATA PRIVACY] Elon Musk Asked People to Upload Their Health Data. X Users Obliged. (New York Times) 
• [DATA PRIVACY] Cash App $15M security settlement deadline is here. What you need to know to file a claim. (USA Today) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] Exclusive: US ordered TSMC to halt shipments to China of chips used in AI applications (Reuters) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] David Attenborough is ‘profoundly disturbed’ by AI voice (USA Today) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE]  It Isn’t Just Data Centers—AI’s Plumbing Needs an Upgrade (Wall Street Journal)
• [COMPETITION/PLATFORM REGULATION]  Google’s $2 Billion Anthropic Investment Gets U.K. Antitrust Clearance (Wall Street Journal) 
• [DEFAMATION] Kari Lake settles defamation case  (Washington Post) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] It’s a Legacy Agriculture Company—And Your Newest AI Vendor (Wall Street Journal) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] AI could cause ‘social ruptures’ between people who disagree on its sentience (The Guardian) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] AI isn’t about unleashing our imaginations, it’s about outsourcing them. The real purpose is profit (The Guardian) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] A Powerful AI Breakthrough Is About to Transform the World (Wall Street Journal)  
• [DISINFORMATION/PLATFORM REGULATION] PODCAST: Why a State Department Office Battling Disinformation Abroad Is Facing Closure(Wall Street Journal) 
• [CENSORSHIP] OPINION: Andrew M. Grossman & Kristin A. Shpiro: How Trump Can Combat Censorship (Wall Street Journal) 

(November 13 – 19, 2024)

Supreme Court of Canada

• The Supreme Court of Canada has decided the following leave applications.
  • [ELECTIONS] GRANTED : Glen L. Resler, in his capacity as Chief Electoral Officer v. Joseph V. Anglin (Alta.) (Civil) (By Leave) (41298)    

Senate of Canada

• Bill C-294 (Copyright Act) receives Royal Assent 

Canadian Heritage

• The Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage presents its report entitled “Tech giants’ intimidation and subversion tactics to evade regulation in Canada and globally” 

Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada

• News Release:
  • Canadian privacy regulators pass resolution to address privacy-related harms resulting from deceptive design patterns 
  • Privacy Commissioner of Canada signs information-sharing agreements with Nigeria and Brazil 
  • Privacy Commissioner announces investigation into World Anti-Doping Agency 
• Media Advisory
  • Privacy Commissioner to appear before Senate committee on cyber security bill 

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

• News Release:
  • Minister Champagne wraps up visit to Silicon Valley 
  • Expanding high-speed Internet access in eastern Ontario
  • Expanding high-speed Internet access for rural and Indigenous communities in Manitoba  
  • Canada launches Canadian Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute  
• Backgrounder:
  • Order Referring Telecom Decision CRTC 2023-358 Back to the CRTC
• Media Advisory:
  • Minister Champagne to announce the launch of the Canadian Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute 

Copyright Board of Canada

• Proposed Tariffs for the Years 2026 and Beyond
  • ARTISTI – Online Music Services Tariff (2026-2028) 
  • SOCAN Tariff 1.C – Radio – Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (2026-2028) 
  • SOCAN Tariff 2.B – Television – Ontario Educational Communications Authority (2026-2028) 
  • SOCAN Tariff 2.B – Television – Ontario Educational Communications Authority (2026-2028) 
  • SOCAN Tariff 2.D – Television – Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (2026-2028) 

Department of Justice Canada

• News Release:
  • Strengthening support for access to justice services in both official languages in Ontario 

Democratic Institutions

• Statement:
  • Statement by Minister LeBlanc on the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions 

Competition Bureau Canada

• News Release:
  • Competition Bureau publishes report on Canada’s Competition Summit 2024 
  • Competition Bureau reaches agreement with TransAlta to preserve competition in wholesale electricity supply in Alberta 

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

• News Release:
  • CRTC consults on definition of Canadian content and flexible approach for radio  
• Speech:
  • Stéphanie Paquette to les Jours de la radio 2024 
• Broadcasting and Telecoms:
  • Broadcasting notice of consultation 2024-137-2
    [2024-11-18 11:00:00]
    Call for comments – Development of a regulatory policy for closed captioning provided by online streaming undertakings – Extension to the deadlines for the submission of interventions and of replies – New deadline for submission of interventions: 11 December 2024 – New deadline for submission of replies: 29 January 2025
  • Broadcasting notice of consultation 2024-290
    [2024-11-15 14:00:00]
    Call for comments – Modernization of radio processes – Deadline for submission of interventions: 20 January 2025 – Deadline for submission of replies: 4 February 2025 – Public record: 1011-NOC2024-0290
  • Telecom order 2024-289
    [2024-11-15 14:00:00]
    Determination of Costs Award – Determination of costs award with respect to the participation of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre in the proceeding initiated by TekSavvy Solutions Inc. – File numbers: 8622-T117-202306919 and 4754-740
  • Broadcasting notice of consultation 2024-288
    [2024-11-15 14:00:00]
    Notice of hearing – 31 March 2025 – Gatineau, Quebec – The Path Forward – Defining “Canadian program” and supporting the creation and distribution of Canadian programming in the audio-visual sector – Deadline for the submission of interventions: 20 January 2025
  • Telecom order 2024-287
    [2024-11-13 11:00:00]
    Determination of Costs Award – Determination of costs award with respect to the participation of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre in the proceeding initiated by the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs, and the Paramedic Chiefs of Canada – File numbers: 8662-C402-202306935 and 4754-739
  • Telecom order 2024-286
    [2024-11-13 11:00:00]
    Determination of Costs Award – Determination of costs award with respect to the participation of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre in the proceeding initiated by an application to review and vary Telecom Decision 2024-141 – File numbers: 8622-J64-202305771 and 4754-754
  • Telecom order 2024-285
    [2024-11-12 11:00:00]
    Broadband Fund – Change request – TELUS Communications Inc.’s mobile project in the central interior of British Columbia – Public record: 1011-NOC 2019-0372
  • Telecom order 2024-284
    [2024-11-12 11:00:00]
    Broadband Fund – Change request – TELUS Communications Inc.’s access and mobile project in British Columbia (Xeni Gwet’in) – Public record: 1011-NOC2019-0372
  • Telecom order 2024-283
    [2024-11-12 11:00:00]
    Broadband Fund – Change request – TELUS Mobility’s access and mobile project in northern Alberta – Public record: 1011-NOC2019-0372
  • Telecom decision 2024-282
    [2024-11-12 11:00:00]
    Final 2024 revenue-percent charge and related matters
  • Telecom decision 2024-281
    [2024-11-12 11:00:00]
    Canadian Administrator of VRS (CAV), Inc. – Application requesting video relay service funding for 2025 – Public record: 8665-C209-202404226

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) 

• CBC Expands Local and Regional News Coverage Across Canada 

Google 

• A safer internet: policy recommendations for fighting scams and fraud together 
• Google at APEC 2024

Meta 

•  Reshape Your Instagram With a Recommendations Reset  

Supreme Court of Canada

• The Supreme Court of Canada will decide the following leave applications at 9:45 a.m. ET on Thursday, November 21, 2024. This list might change.
  • [ACCESS TO INFORMATION] Brian Thomas Goldie, et al. v. Municipality of the County of Kings (Nova Scotia) (Civil) (By Leave) – 41344
  • [LANGUAGE RIGHTS] Raymond Carby-Samuels v. Ville de Gatineau, et al.  (Quebec) (Civil) (By Leave) – 41259 

Senate of Canada

• The Senate sitting and possible sitting days:  The Senate will be sitting from November 19 to 21, with possible sitting days on November 22 and 25, 2024
  • Meetings:
    • Standing Committee on Transport and Communications (TRCM): Study matters relating to transport and communications generally (Topic: Local services provided by CBC/Radio-Canada) – Tuesday, November 19, 2024 at 9:00 AM ET  
    • Standing Committee on Transport and Communications (TRCM): Study matters relating to transport and communications generally (Topic: Local services provided by CBC/Radio-Canada) – Wednesday, November 20, 2024 at 6:45 PM ET
    • Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs (SECD): Bill C-26, An Act respecting cyber security, amending the Telecommunications Act and making consequential amendments to other Acts – Monday, November 25, 2024
  • Bills on the Agenda
    • S-237: An Act to establish the Foreign Influence Registry and to amend the Criminal Code  – At second reading in the Senate
    • S-257: An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act (protecting against discrimination based on political belief) – At second 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 November 18 to 22, 2024.
  • Meetings:
    • Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs (PROC): Question of Privilege Related to Cyber Attacks Targeting Members of Parliament  – Tuesday, November 19, 2024, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 pm; Bill C-65, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act – 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.    
    • Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (ETHI): Privacy Breaches at the Canada Revenue Agency – Tuesday, November 19, 2024, 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.   
    • Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security (SECU): Russian Interference and Disinformation Campaigns in Canada – Thursday, November 7, 2024, 3:58 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. 
    • Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security (SECU): Russian Interference and Disinformation Campaigns in Canada – Thursday, November 21, 2024, 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. 
  • 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, notices of consultation, orders and/or regulatory policies in the week of 18 to 22 November 2024. This is subject to change without notice.
    • Broadcasting Notices of Consultation:
• Call for comments – Development of a regulatory policy for closed captioning provided by online streaming undertakings – Request to extend the deadlines for the submission of interventions and of replies Public record: 1011-NOC2024-0137
• Telecom Notice of Consultation:
  • Call for comments – Reconsideration of an aspect of Telecom Decision 2023-358
• Telecom Orders:
  • Determination of costs award with respect to the participation of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre in the proceeding initiated by TELUS Communications Inc.’s application – File numbers: 8663-T66-202402246 and 4754-752

• 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:

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

• Share your thoughts on Canadian content for TV and online streaming services: End date: January 20, 2025 
• Share your thoughts about the modernization of radio processes  Current status: End date: January 20, 2025 
• Call for comments regarding the Canadian Association of Broadcasters’ proposed plan for the operation of a temporary fund supporting local news production by commercial radio stations in smaller markets – Start date: December 4, 2024 – deadline December 19, 2024.  
• Share your thoughts on a temporary fund to support local news production by commercial radio stations – Start date: November 4, 2024 End date: December 19, 2024 
• Share your thoughts about described video and audio description: Second consultation period – September 19 to November 20, 2024  

Innovation, Science and Economic Development 

• Right to Repair Consultation – closing date for comments: Dec 13, 2024 

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