Weekly Newsletter for November 26, 2024

Weekly News (November 26, 2024)

Compiled by Brad McNeil and Faezeh Daemi with Sara Bannerman

McMaster University, Communications Governance Observatory

(November 20-26, 2024)
Canadian News

• [ONLINE NEWS ACT] Meta fights CRTC, refuses to publicly release info on news blocking measures (CTV news)
• [TELECOMMUNICATIONS] CRTC wants push for better consumer access to competitive mobile plans; The telecom regulator’s proposed changes aim to make it easier for Canadians to switch between plans and providers (The Globe and Mail)
• [ONLINE HARMS] Behind Ottawa’s parliamentary impasse; The nearly two-month standoff could end soon, but is likely to resume just as quickly (Toronto Star)
• [INTERNET GOVERNANCE] Ottawa hosts digital policy leaders at top Canadian conference on internet governance (GlobalNewswire)

• [PRIVACY] Alberta privacy commissioner raises concerns over government bills (The Globe and Mail)
• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] Brampton city council approves bylaw to restrict protests near places of worship (Toronto Star)
• [HATE SPEECH/FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] Niagara’s Big Three Mayors support use of Notwithstanding Clause to remove homeless encampments (The Canadian Press)
• [FREEDOM OF THE PRESS/ACCESS TO INFORMATION] If TikTok poses a grave threat to national security, why are Canadians told they can keep using it? (Lakeland Today)
• [PRIVACY] Hamilton inadvertently recorded tens of thousands of resident callers without their knowledge [Hamilton Spectator]
• [HATE SPEECH/FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] The city rejected a bus ad they thought would discriminate against trans people. The court ruled in its favour (Hamilton Spectator)
• [COPYRIGHT] Swifties live-streaming Eras Tour concerts say they’re part of a ‘community’ (The Canadian Press)
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/  DATA ACT] AI and criminal justice: How AI can support — not undermine — justice (North Shore News)
• [PRIVACY] LifeLabs data breach report released after firm loses four-year bid to keep it quiet (The Canadian Press)
• [HATE SPEECH] Whatever happened to peaceful Canada? (National Post)
• [ONLINE SUBSCRIPTIONS/TERMS OF SERVICE] OPINION: Vass Bednar: Subscriptions are everywhere, and they are ruining our lives; U.S. regulators recently introduced a ‘one-click’ rule: it needs to be as easy to cancel their subscriptions as it is to sign up in the first place (The Global Mail)
• [CELLPHONE BAN] ​​OPINION: John Richardson: Is Ontario’s school cellphone ban actually going well? Here are some reasons to think so (Toronto Star) 
• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] OPINION: Douglas Stollery: I helped win a landmark case for gay rights nearly 30 years ago. I fear we’re forgetting the lessons of the past (Toronto Star)

International News

• [PLATFORM REGULATION/PRIVACY/LAWSUIT] Supreme Court allows shareholder lawsuit against Facebook to go forward (Washington Post) 
• [CYBERSECURITY] Russia will not intimidate us with cyberthreats, UK minister tells NATO (Reuters) 
• [ELECTIONS/CENSORSHIP] Jailing of 45 Hong Kong democrats in national security trial draws criticism (Reuters) 
• [CYBERSECURITY/TELECOMMUNICATIONS] Top senator calls Chinese spying effort ‘worst telecom hack’ in U.S. history (The Washington Post)
• [PRIVACY] Australia’s plan to ban children from social media proves popular and problematic (The Associated Press)
• [PRIVACY/PLATFORM REGULATION] Google and Meta urge Australia to delay social media ban for children (NBC News) 
• [PLATFORM REGULATION/COMPETITION] Google to tweak search results on platform in Europe after complaints from rivals(Globe and Mail) 
• [PLATFORM REGULATION/COMPETITION] Google’s U.S. antitrust trial over online ad empire hears closing arguments (Globe and Mail) 
• [COMPETITION] DOJ says Google should have to sell Chrome to end its search monopoly  (Washington Post) 
• [PLATFORM REGULATION/LAWSUIT] Elon Musk’s X adds Twitch as defendant in lawsuit over advertising ‘boycott’ of social media platform (Globe and Mail) 
• [TELECOMMUNICATIONS] US Supreme Court to decide Federal Communications Commission fund’s legality (Reuters) 
• [HATE SPEECH] UK police forces quietly withdraw from X platform amid content concerns (Reuters)
• [CENSORSHIP/TELECOMMUNICATIONS] Trump pick for FCC chief has clashed with Big Tech  (Washington Post) 
• [PLATFORM REGULATION] U.S. watchdog issues final rule to supervise Big Tech payments, digital wallets (Globe and Mail) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/ ELECTIONS] Trump eyes “AI czar”, Axios reports (Reuters)
• [PRIVACY] Your X-Rays Sent to X? Privacy Experts Cringe (The New York times)
• [BROADCASTING ACT] How Trump Can Rid Washington of Wokeness (Wall street journal) 
• [PLATFORM REGULATION] Antitrust Enforcers Ready Final Tech Blitz (The Wall Street Journal)
• [PRIVACY/ PERSONAL INFORMATION] New York State Fines Geico and Travelers $11.3 Million for Data Breaches; Leaky cyber defenses allowed customer data to be stolen, enabling Covid-19 fraud, attorney general alleges (The Wall Street Journal)
• [PRIVACY/ PERSONAL INFORMATION] An A.I. Granny Is Phone Scammers’ Worst Nightmare (The New York times)
• [PRIVACY/SURVEILLANCE] Republicans Are Halting Proposal To Taper Part of Surveillance Law (The New York Times)
• [DATA PRIVACY] Elon Musk Asked People to Upload Their Health Data. X Users Obliged.  (New York Times) 
• [TECH/POLITICS] Trump and Musk deepen their bond with trip to Texas for Starship rocket launch (PBS News)
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE]  AI is guzzling up electricity – and threatening U.S. climate goals (The Washington Post)
• [ONLINE HARMS/PLATFORM REGULATION] Inside Big Tech’s Bid to Sink the Online Kid Safety Bill (Wall Street Journal) 
• [CENSORSHIP/ PRIVACY]               Labor has unveiled its proposed social media ban for under-16s. Here’s what we know – and what we don’t (The Guardian)
• [PLATFORM REGULATION] 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/DATA PRIVACY] Bunnings breached privacy of customers by using facial recognition, watchdog finds (The Guardian)
• [PRIVACY/ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE]  Heard on the Street: Google’s Government Foes Are Aiming High ( The Wall Street Journal)
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] Musk emails reveal OpenAI’s deep roots of dissension (The Washington Post)
• [COMPETITION/PLATFORM REGULATION] Companies Vie to Put Most Nvidia Chips in One Place (The Wall Street Journal)
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] The Many Ways WSJ Readers Use AI in Their Everyday Lives: They are increasingly leaning on artificial intelligence for work  but also for love and adventure (The Wall Street Journal)
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE REGULATION] Trading ‘Real Thing’ For ‘Real Magic A.I.‘ (The New York Times)
• [MEDIA OWNERSHIP] ‘How much does it cost?’ Elon Musk riffs on buying MSNBC after Comcast spinoff news (USA Today) 
• [PRIVACY] Constant location-sharing is hindering our relationships (The Washington Post)
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] AI could help scale humanitarian responses. But it could also have big downsides (The Globe and Mail)
• [DATA PRIVACY] It’s not just a game. Your Pokemon Go player data is training AI map models. (USA Today)
• [COMPETITION] OPINION: The Editorial Board: Punishing Google for Its Search Success (Wall Street Journal) 

(November 20-26, 2024)

Supreme Court of the United States

• FACEBOOK, INC., et al., PETITIONERS v. AMALGAMATED BANK, et al. 

Supreme Court of Canada

• The Supreme Court of Canada has decided the following leave applications.
  • [LANGUAGE RIGHTS] GRANTED: Raymond Carby-Samuels v. Ville de Gatineau, et al.  (Quebec) (Civil) (By Leave) (41259) 

Information Commissioner of Canada

• Speech:
  • My renewed commitment to access to information: Canadian Access and Privacy Association Annual Conference 

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:
  • Privacy Commissioner discusses cybersecurity bill before Senate committee 
• Media Advisory:
  • Privacy Commissioner to appear before Parliamentary committee on study of breaches at the Canada Revenue Agency 
• Advice to Parliament
  •  Commissioner submits recommendations on proposed amendments to the Canada Elections Act 
  •  Appearance before the Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs during its review of Bill C-26 

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

• News Release:
  • Canada launches Canadian Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute  

Competition Bureau Canada

• News Release:
  • Opening statement to the Standing Committee on Industry and Technology: Credit card practices and regulations in Canada
  • Competition Bureau advances an investigation into Broadridge’s business practices  

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

• News Release:
  • CRTC consults on making it easier for Canadians to choose the best Internet and cellphone plans  
• Commission Letter:
  • Broadcasting – Staff Letter addressed to Dan Ball (Meta Platforms Inc.) 
• Broadcasting and Telecoms:
  • Telecom order 2024-297
    [2024-11-25 11:00:00]
    Streamlined order – The Commission approves the following tariff application: Bell Canada, TN 987
  • Telecom order 2024-296
    [2024-11-22 14:00:00]
    Determination of costs award with respect to the participation of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre in the proceeding initiated by Telecom Notice of Consultation 2023 89 – File numbers: 1011-NOC2023-0089 and 4754-753
  • Telecom notice of consultation 2024-295
    [2024-11-22 14:00:00]
    Call for comments – Making it easier to choose a wireless phone or Internet service – Enhancing self service mechanisms – Deadline for submission of interventions: 9 January 2025 – Deadline for submission of replies: 24 January 2025 – Public record: 1011-NOC2024-0295
  • Telecom notice of consultation 2024-294
    [2024-11-22 14:00:00]
    Call for comments – Making it easier to choose a wireless phone or Internet service – Removing barriers to switching plans – Deadline for submission of interventions: 9 January 2025 – Deadline for submission of replies: 24 January 2025 – Public record: 1011-NOC2024-0294
  • Telecom notice of consultation 2024-293
    [2024-11-22 14:00:00]
    Call for comments – Making it easier to choose a wireless phone or Internet service – Enhancing customer notification – Deadline for submission of interventions: 9 January 2025 – Deadline for submission of replies: 24 January 2025 – Public record: 1011-NOC2024-0293
  • Telecom notice of consultation 2024-292
    [2024-11-21 16:00:00]
    Call for comments – Reconsideration of an aspect of Telecom Decision 2023-358 – Public record: 1011-NOC2024-0292
  • Telecom order 2024-291
    [2024-11-21 16:00:00]
    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

United Nations

• New UN initiative aims to counter climate disinformation  
• Hong Kong: 45 activists sentenced under controversial National Security Law  

Amazon

• The cloud’s contribution to global GDP is projected to surpass $12 trillion in the next six years according to a trio of new studies. 

Google 

• DOJ’s staggering proposal would hurt consumers and America’s global technological leadership 

Meta 

• Cracking Down On Organized Crime Behind Scam Centers  

TikTok

• TikTok collaboration with National PTA provides new online safety for teens and families 

Senate of Canada

• The Senate sitting and possible sitting days:  The Senate will be sitting from November 26 to 28, with possible sitting days on November 29, 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 26, 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) – Tuesday, November 27, 2024 at 6:45 PM ET 
  • 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

House of Commons

• The House of Commons sitting and possible sitting days:  The House of Commons will be sitting from November 25 to 29, 2024.
  • Meetings:
    • Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (ETHI): Privacy Breaches at the Canada Revenue Agency – Tuesday, November 26, 2024, 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
    • Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage (CHPC): Further consideration of the eighth report of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage – Wednesday, November 27, 2024, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 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 25 to 29 November 2024. This is subject to change without notice.
    • Telecom Orders:
• Determination of costs award with respect to the participation of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre in the proceeding initiated by Telecom Notice of Consultation 2023-39 – File numbers: 1011-NOC2023-0039 and 4754-716
• Determination of costs award with respect to the participation of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Coalition in the proceeding initiated by Telecom Notice of Consultation 2023-39 – File numbers: 1011-NOC2023-0039 and 4754-750
• Determination of costs award with respect to the participation of the Canada Deaf Grassroots Movement in the proceeding initiated by Telecom Notice of Consultation 2023-39 – File numbers: 1011-NOC2023-0039 and 4754-751
• Determination of costs award with respect to the participation of The Deaf Wireless Canada Consultative Committee in the proceeding initiated by Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2023-39 – File numbers: 1011-NOC2023-0039 and 4754-732

• CRTC Open Broadcasting Proceedings
• CRTC Open Telecom Proceedings

Consultations:

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

• (Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2024-295) Call for comments – Making it easier to choose a wireless phone or Internet service – Enhancing self-service mechanisms – Deadline for submission of interventions: 9 January 2025 Deadline for submission of replies: 24 January 2025 
• (Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2024-294) Call for comments – Making it easier to choose a wireless phone or Internet service – Removing barriers to switching plans Deadline for submission of interventions: 9 January 2025 Deadline for submission of replies: 24 January 2025
• (Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2024-293) Call for comments – Making it easier to choose a wireless phone or Internet service – Enhancing customer notification Deadline for submission of interventions: 9 January 2025 Deadline for submission of replies: 24 January 2025   
• (Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2024-292) Call for comments – Reconsideration of an aspect of Telecom Decision 2023-358 Deadline for submission of interventions: 12 December 2024 Deadline for submission of replies: 19 December 2024 
• Share your thoughts on Canadian content for TV and online streaming services: End date: Start date: November 15, 2024, End date: January 20, 2025 
• Share your thoughts about the modernization of radio processes  Current status: End date: Start date: November 15, 2024, 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  

Innovation, Science and Economic Development 

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