Weekly Newsletter for November 5, 2024

Weekly News (November 5, 2024)

Compiled by Brad McNeil and Faezeh Daemi with Sara Bannerman

McMaster University, Communications Governance Observatory

(October 29 – November 5, 2024)

Canadian News

• [ONLINE NEWS ACT] Google gets green light to distribute $100-million to news organizations (Globe and Mail) 
• [DIGITAL TAX] Ontario urges Ottawa to pause digital services tax  (Globe and Mail) 
• [PLATFORM REGULATION] Will Canada follow the U.S. and ban TikTok? Users say that would shut the door on conversation (Globe and Mail) 
• [PRIVACY]  Privacy commissioner investigates federal revenue agency data breaches  (Toronto Star) 
• [PLATFORM REGULATION] The head of Google Canada on regulating AI, a sometimes frightening future and earning users’ trust  (Toronto Star) 
• [MISINFORMATION/ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE REGULATION] Ontario’s chief electoral officer seeks more tools to fight misinformation (CBC) 
• [ACCESS TO INFORMATION] The former Ford government staffer at the centre of the Greenbelt scandal used personal emails to do government business. He is refusing to hand them over  (Toronto Star) 
• [FREEDOM OF INFORMATION] ‘Not for now,’ says N.S. Tory leader regarding order-making power for info czar (Toronto Star) 
• [PUBLIC BROADCASTING] MPs vote to recall CBC chief Catherine Tait for questioning, and to summon her successor (Globe and Mail) 
• [PUBLIC BROADCASTING] CBC president Catherine Tait pays $200 conflict-of-interest fine, blames investment advisor (National Post) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] Lost gigs and lower pay: How AI is already affecting freelance artists and writers (Globe and Mail) 
• [HATE SPEECH] Ottawa must combat residential school denialism by amending Criminal Code, special interlocutor says (Globe and Mail) 
• [ONLINE HARMS BILL] Mother of Amanda Todd, teen who died after cyber bullying, calls on MPs to unblock online harms bill (Globe and Mail) 
• [PRIVACY] Canada’s banking lobbyists call for overhaul of financial crime reporting regime (Globe and Mail) 
• [PRIVACY] Yukon privacy commissioner’s concerns about facial recognition lead to proposed Traffic Safety Act changes (Yukon News) 
• [TELECOMMUNICATIONS] Wall Street powerhouse Blackstone is mystery bidder for $7-billion Rogers investment  (Globe and Mail) 
• [CYBERSECURITY] Canada posts cyber attaché in Taiwan as ties deepen (Globe and Mail) 
• [DOCUMENT TRANSLATIONS/COURT] Supreme Court sued over its refusal to translate decisions before 1970 into French (Globe and Mail) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/ONLINE HARMS] Edmonton-based Indigenous AI project selected to participate in MIT program (CTV News) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] ‘Godfather of AI’ issues a warning, while his colleague holds out hope (National Post) 
• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION/JOURNALISM]  This essay breaks a rule of Canadian media. I hope it encourages others to do the same  (Toronto Star) 
• [CYBERSECURITY/PERSONAL DATA]  AGO hit by cybersecurity incident, customer information accessed  (Toronto Star) 
• [ONLINE HARMS] OPINION:Johnathan McHale: Canada’s online-harms bill needs to address its backdoor encryption issue (Globe and Mail) 
• [PUBLIC BROADCASTING] OPINION: Linda McQuaig: Here’s why Pierre Poilievre is so afraid of the CBC  (Toronto Star) 

International News

• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/ELECTIONS/FOREIGN INTERFERENCE] How Russia, China and Iran Are Interfering in the Presidential Election (New York Times)
• [PLATFORM REGULATION] South Korea fines Meta about $15 mln over collection of user data (Reuters) 
• [DISINFORMATION/ FOREIGN INTERFERENCE] Meet the Russian blogger accused of U.S. election interference (Washington Post)
• [HATE SPEECH] Far-right activist convicted in Sweden of hate speech against Muslims  (Reuters) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/DISINFORMATION] An ‘Interview’ With a Dead Luminary Exposes the Pitfalls of A.I. (New York Times)
• [TELECOMMUNICATIONS] Telesat pitches Taiwan on low-Earth-orbit satellite internet (Globe and Mail) 
• [ELECTIONS/FOREIGN INTERFERENCE] Russian disinformation videos push lies on voter fraud and immigrants  (Washington Post) 
• [CONTENT MODERATION/ ELECTIONS] On Telegram, a Violent Preview of What May Unfold on Election Day and After (New York Times)
• [DATA PRIVACY/ACCESS TO INFORMATION] US tech firms warn Vietnam’s planned law to hamper data centres, social media (Reuters) 
• [FOREIGN INTERFERENCE/ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/ELECTIONS] Foreign Adversaries Target Specific Demographics in Attempt to Sway U.S. Election (Wall Street Journal) 
• [DISINFORMATION/PLATFORM REGULATION] Disinformation Watchdogs Are Under Pressure. This Group Refuses to Stop. (New York Times) 
• [PRIVACY/CHAT ENCRYPTION] Encrypted messaging app developer moves out of Australia after police visit employee’s home (The Guardian) 
• [CONTENT MODERATION/PLATFORM GOVERNANCE/ELECTIONS] How Meta, TikTok, YouTube and X are moderating election threats ; A rundown of the major platforms’ policies.  (Washington Post) 
• [PRIVACY] They made a public Rolodex of our faces. Here’s how I tried to get out.  (Washington Post) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/MILITARY] Meta Permits Its A.I. Models to Be Used for U.S. Military Purposes (New York Times) 
• [CONTENT MODERATION/PLATFORM GOVERNANCE/ELECTIONS] Meta struggles to curb hate speech before US vote: researchers (Economic Times) 
• [PERSONAL INFORMATION/ELECTIONS] How Twitter Moved Musk To the Right (New York Times)
• [TECH/POLITICS/ELECTIONS] Elon Musk is sued over $1 million election giveaway (Reuters) 
• [ONLINE HARMS/HATE SPEECH] The Proud Boys Have Regrouped and Are Signaling Election Plans; Far-right organization that played central role in Jan. 6 Capitol riot has reorganized into chapters that are echoing claims of ballot fraud—and discussing a response (Wall Street Journal)
• [HATE SPEECH/ELECTION] Xenophobia and Hate Rise In Final Days Before Vote (New York Times)
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] OpenAI in talks with California to become for-profit company, Bloomberg News reports (Reuters) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/ENVIRONMENT] The AI boom may unleash a global surge in electronic waste (Washington Post) 
• [CONTENT MODERATION/ELECTIONS] Efforts to combat disinformation in retreat as voters head to the polls  (Washington Post) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] Kay Koplovitz Wants to See More Entrepreneurs Who Look Like Her  (New York Times)
• [TELECOMMUNICATIONS/PRIVACY] Consumer group: More telephone companies should protect consumers from robocalls (USA Today) 
• [PRIVACY/ELECTIONS] O’Keefe Recruits Poll Workers to Record Voting and Ballot Counting Across U.S (New York Times)
• [MISINFORMATION/ELECTIONS] Musk and X are epicenter of US election misinformation, experts say (Reuters)  
• [MEDIA] How Trump could weaponize the FCC against the media in a second term  (Washington Post) 
• [CYBERSECURITY/ELECTION] Cyber Threats and the Election: What You Need to Know (Wall Street Journal) 
• [PRIVACY] Oracle’s $115 million privacy settlement faces some opposition from class members (Reuters) 
• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] UPDATE 1-Eight on trial in France over murder of teacher who showed Prophet caricature (CNN)
• [HATE SPEECH/ELECTIONS] Harris’s and Trump’s Closing Messages, as Seen Through Their Ads (Washington Post)
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] As regional violence rages, Saudi Arabia pitches itself as investment hub (Washington Post)
• [HATE SPEECH/ELECTION] Is ugly chapter in US history going to repeat? Actor George Takei worries it will (USA TODAY)
• [COPYRIGHT]  Ed Sheeran Prevails in Copyright Appeal Over ‘Let’s Get It On’  (New York Times) 
• [HATE SPEECH] Trump’s New York rally reflects a party where hate speech has become mainstream (Washington Post) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/SEARCH RECOMENDERS] OpenAI Adds Search Engine to ChatGPT, Challenging Google (Wall Street Journal) 
• [TELECOMMUNICATIONS] OPINION: Erik Bohlin: 5G might mark the demise of the telecommunications system as we know it (Globe and Mail) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE REGULATION] OPINION: Thomas L. Friedman: A Harris Presidency Is the Only Way to Stay Ahead of A.I. (New York Times) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/PRIVACY] PODCAST: Elon Musk’s Approach to AI Could Make His Robotaxi a Long Shot (Wall Street Journal)

(October 29 – November 5, 2024)

Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada

• News Release
  • Privacy Commissioner attends Global Privacy Assembly to promote stronger international standards for data protection 

Canadian Intellectual Property Office

• CIPO Hosts 26th Annual CIPO-WIPO Executive Program 

Communications Security Establishment Canada

• Top Canadian cyber security body releases flagship guidance for critical infrastructure  

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

• News Release:
  • CRTC launches consultation on temporary fund to support local radio news    
• Speech:
  • Scott Shortliffe to the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications  
• Broadcasting and Telecoms:
  • Telecom order 2024-271
    [2024-11-04 11:00:00]
    Streamlined order – The Commission approves on an interim basis the following tariff application: TELUS Communications Inc., TN 596
  • Broadcasting notice of consultation 2024-270
    [2024-11-04 11:00:00]
    Call for comments – 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 – Deadline for submission of comments: 4 December 2024 – Deadline for submission of replies: 19 December 2024 – Public record: 1011-NOC2024-0270
  • Telecom order 2024-269
    [2024-11-04 11:00:00]
    Bell Canada – Tariff Notice 7697 – Withdrawal of PhoneCare service – Public record: Tariff Notice 7697
  • Broadcasting information bulletin 2024-268
    [2024-11-01 11:00:00]
    Guidelines for all licensees of broadcasting undertakings serving the province of Nova Scotia – Provincial election
  • Telecom order 2024-267
    [2024-11-01 11:00:00]
    Streamlined order – The Commission approves on a final basis the following tariff application: Rogers Communications Canada Inc., on behalf of 676766 Ontario Limited operating as KWIC Internet, TN 2
  • Telecom decision 2024-266
    [2024-11-01 11:00:00]
    CISC Canadian Steering Committee on Numbering – Consensus reports CNRE141A and CNRE143A – Public record: 8621-C12-01/08
  • Broadcasting decision 2024-265
    [2024-10-31 11:00:00]
    Bayshore Broadcasting Corporation – Owen Sound, Ontario – Application to operate an English-language commercial FM radio station in Owen Sound to replace the English-language commercial AM radio station CFOS Owen Sound
  • Telecom order 2024-264
    [2024-10-30 11:00:00]
    Broadband Fund payment order – Approval of final implementation report – October 2024 – Public record: 1011-NOC2019-0372
  • Telecom order 2024-263
    [2024-10-30 11:00:00]
    Broadband Fund payment order – Approval of claim forms – October 2024 – Public record: 1011-NOC2019-0372

United Nations

• 85 per cent of journalist killings go unpunished 

Meta 

• Open Source AI Can Help America Lead in AI and Strengthen Global Security 

Microsoft

• AI for Startups 

OpenAI 

• Introducing ChatGPT search 

Senate of Canada

• The Senate sitting and possible sitting days:  The Senate will be sitting from November 5 – 7, with a possible sitting day on November 8, 2024.
  • Meetings:
    • Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs: Bill C-26, An Act respecting cyber security, amending the Telecommunications Act and making consequential amendments to other Acts – Monday November 4, 2024: 4:00 P.M. ET 
    •  Standing Committee on Transport and Communications (TRCM): Study matters relating to transport and communications generally (Topic: Topic: Local services provided by CBC/Radio-Canada) – Tuesday November 5, 2024 at 9:00 AM ET
    •   Standing Committee on Transport and Communications (TRCM): Study matters relating to transport and communications generally (Topic: Topic: Local services provided by CBC/Radio-Canada) – Tuesday November 6, 2024 at 6:45 PM ET 
  • Bills on the Agenda
    • 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 November 4-8 , 2024.
  • Meetings
    • Standing Committee on Public Saftey and National Security (SECU): Russian Interference and Disinformation Campaigns in Canada -Tuesday, November 5, 2024, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  
    • Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs (PROC): Bill C-65, An Act to Amend the Canada Elections Act – Tuesday, November 5, 2024, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 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 
    • C-65: An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act -At consideration in committee 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 Week of 4 to 8 November 2024. This is subject to change without notice.
    • Broadcasting Notice of Consultation
• 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 – Public record: 1011-NOC2024-0270

• 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 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 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, 202

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