Newsletter: September 17, 2019

Weekly News (September 17, 2019)

Compiled by Ian Steinberg and Kim Payne with Sara Bannerman

McMaster University, Communications Governance Observatory

 

Communications Governance Observatory Podcast

Podcast Episode 8: Platform Regulation Part 1 with Dr. Tamara Shepherd (17 min)

Podcast Episode 9: Platform Regulation Part 2 with Dr. Tamara Shepherd (17 min)

 

 

Canadian News (September 11-16, 2019)

·         [PRIVACY / LAWFUL ACCESS] The Liberal government’s vision for your privacy seems to be quite private, itself (Globe and Mail)

·         [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] Ontario Court of Appeal rules police can conduct security searches of civilians at police board meetings (Star)

·          [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] Amnesty International says Jason Kenney’s ‘fight back’ strategy violates human rights (CBC)

·         [PRIVACY] N.W.T. faces lawsuit over health data breach that could affect all residents (Star)

·         [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] Ontario law society revokes rule requiring members to commit to promoting diversity (Globe and Mail)

·         [DATA POLICY] Political parties urged to commit to policies for data-driven economy (National Post)

·         [PRIVACY/SMART CITY] Digital experts raise data, privacy concerns in review of Sidewalk Labs project (Financial Post)

·         [PRIVACY] Dozens of MPs’ websites can track visitors for targeted campaign ads (CBC)

·         [CULTURAL FUNDING] Film company alleges Ottawa pulled funding over Bannon ties (Globe and Mail)

·         [PRIVACY] Police board’s race data plan called ‘historic step’ (Star)

·         [POLITICAL ADVERTISING] Ontario Proud and the rise of third-party cash(Globe and Mail)

·         [CULTURAL FUNDING] TIFF is a double-edged sword for industry, study says(Globe and Mail)

·         [PRIVACY] Privacy casts shadow over in-vehicle voice assistants (Globe and Mail)

·         [ELECTIONS COMMUNICATION] Opinion: We need to be better at TV election debates (Globe and Mail)

·         [TELEVISION INDUSTRY] Opinion: Netflix will win the streaming wars (Globe and Mail)

·         [PRESS FREEDOM] Opinion: Press freedom applies to everyone – even The Rebel (Globe and Mail)

·         [INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY] Opinion: Remember Nortel; Trump is right to take on China, but Canada shouldn’t extradite Meng (National Post)

 

International News (September 11-16, 2019)

·         [GIG ECONOMY] California bill makes app-based companies treat workers as employees (NYT)

·         [PRIVACY] California Lawmakers Pass Only Minor Changes to Privacy Measure (WSJ)

·         [PRIVACY/CYBERSECURITY] Washington, Silicon Valley Struggle to Unify on Protecting Elections (WSJ)

·         [PLATFORM REGULATION; COMPETITION] Google subpoenaed for details on its ad business (WSJ)

·          [AI] Ex-Google worker fears ‘killer robots could cause mass atrocities(Guardian)

·         [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] New York moves to repeal ban on gay-conversion therapy (Globe and Mail)

·         [PRIVACY] Britain to use millions of NHS patients’ histories to seek cures(Guardian)

·         [INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY] Māori anger as Air New Zealand seeks to trademark ‘Kia Ora’ logo (Guardian)

·         [BROADCAST GOVERNANCE] Tribune Media sale to Nexstar approved by FCC; WGN-Ch. 9 no longer Chicago’s very own (Chicago Tribune)

·         [TELECOM GOVERNANCE] Senators Urge F.C.C. to Review 2 Chinese Telecoms (NYT)

·         [PRIVACY] Nearly every person in Ecuador had data leaked (CNN)

·         [CENSORSHIP] TikTok’s Beijing roots fuel censorship suspicion as it builds a huge U.S. audience (Washington Post)

·         [BROADBAND] Most isolated tribe in continental US gets broadband (NPR)

·         [PRIVACY] This Camera Is Testing Britain’s Acceptance Of Surveillance (NYT)

·         [DEFAMATION] Pro-Trump news network sues Rachel Maddow for calling it ‘paid Russian propaganda’ (Independent)

·         [DEFAMATION] Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax of Virginia Sues CBS for Defamation(NYT)

·         [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] Democratic debate 2019: ABC warns candidates to keep it clean (NY Post)

·         [PRIVACY] Is New York state about to gut its student data privacy law?(Washington Post)

 

(September 11-16, 2019)

 

Supreme Court of Canada

Judgements in Leave Applications:

·         [INFORMER PRIVILEGE] Sobeys Incorporated and Metro Incorporated v. Commissioner of Competition and Unidentified Witness 1 and Unidentified Witness 2 – and – Globe and Mail Inc., Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Postmedia Network Inc. and CTV News, a division of Bell Media Inc. (Ont.) (Criminal) (By Leave) (38176) The motion to unseal the order granting an extension of time dated September 4, 2018, is granted. The applications for leave to appeal from the judgment of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Number 17-13302, 2019 ONSC 84, dated January 4, 2019, and the order of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice dated March 22, 2018, are dismissed without costs.

 

CRTC

News Releases:

·         CRTC’s Voter Contact Registry to protect voters during 2019 federal election

·         Telecom order 2019-323

[2019-09-13 11:00:00]

Streamlined Order – The Commission approves the following tariff application: Groupe Maskatel LP TN 77

·         Broadcasting information bulletin 2019-322

[2019-09-13 11:00:00]

Guidelines for all licensees of broadcasting undertakings serving Canada – Federal general election

·         Broadcasting notice of consultation 2019-321

[2019-09-13 11:00:00]

Notice of applications – received Deadline for submission of interventions/comments/answers: 15 October 2019 – Public record: 1011-NOC2019-0321

·         Telecom order 2019-320

[2019-09-11 11:00:00]

Streamlined order – The Commission approves on a final basis the following tariff application: Ontera, a division of NorthernTel, Limited Partnership TN 143

·         Telecom order 2019-319

[2019-09-11 11:00:00]

Streamlined order – The Commission approves on a final basis the following tariff application: Bell Aliant TN 531

 

Elections Canada

·         Federal General Election Underway

·         New Voting Rules for Electors Living Outside of Canada

·         Reminders on Registering for the Federal Election

·         Press conference with Chief Electoral Officer Stéphane Perrault on the 2019 federal election

·         Preliminary Election Expenses Limits Now Available

 

Apple

·         Apple announces three groundbreaking health studies

·         Apple Arcade invites you to play something extraordinary

·         Apple TV+ launches November 1, featuring all-new originals

 

Facebook

·         Tightening Our Policies and Expanding Resources to Prevent Suicide and Self-Harm

·         Updating the Values That Inform Our Community Standards

·         Removing Coordinated Inauthentic Behavior From Iraq and Ukraine

 

YouTube

·         Maintaining credibility and consistency on YouTube: Revisions to YouTube Music Charts and 24-hour record debut policy

 

“The 42nd Parliament was dissolved on September 11, 2019.

Dissolution occurs when the Governor General, on the advice of the Prime Minister, issues a proclamation putting an end to the current Parliament, which triggers a general election.

In practice, as soon as Parliament is dissolved, all committee activity ceases and, as such, all orders of reference and committee studies lapse. No committee may sit during a dissolution.”

Senate of Canada

·         No fixed and possible Senate sitting days this week.

Canadian House of Commons

·         No fixed and possible House of Commons sitting days this week.

 

CRTC

The CRTC plans to issue the following decisions, regulatory policies and reports in the coming week. This list may be incomplete and is subject to change without notice.

Broadcasting Decisions:

Decisions relating to the following applications considered under the Commission’sPart 1 process:

·         Akash Broadcasting Inc.

CJCN-FM Surrey – Technical Changes

Public record for this application: 2019-0510-1


  • Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

    CFFB Iqaluit – New transmitters in Rankin Inlet, Taloyoak (Spence Bay), Gjoa Haven, Baker Lake and Arviat (Eskimo Point), and revocation of licence

    Public record for these applications: 2019-0381-5, 2019-0383-1, 2019-0385-7, 2019‑0387-3, 2019-0388-1 and 2019-0391-4

  • Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

    CBTK-FM Kelowna and its transmitter CBUM-FM Nakusp – Technical changes

    Public record for this application: 2019-0544-9

Telecom Decision:

·         Bell Canada – Application for forbearance from the regulation of agreements and arrangements related to international telecommunications services

Public record: 8640-B2-201900903

 

Upcoming Public Hearings:

·         2019-217 Co-development of a new Indigenous Broadcasting Policy

 

·         November 5, 2019 – Gatineau, Quebec

To consider the broadcasting applications listed in Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2019-303

View hearing documents (2019-303)

 

·         CRTC Open Broadcasting Proceedings

·         CRTC Open Telecom Proceedings

 

Copyright Board of Canada

Upcoming hearings:

·         SOCAN Tariff 24 – Ringtones and Ringbacks (2014-2018)

Hearing: Tuesday, September 22, 2020, at 10:00 a.m., Copyright Board hearing room.

Schedule of Proceedings;

Directive on Procedure

·         Non-Commercial Radio

[CMRRA: 2003-2010; CSI: 2011-2018; Re:Sound: 2013-2018]

Hearing: Tuesday, October 27, 2020, at 10:00 a.m., Copyright Board hearing room.

Schedule of Proceedings;

Directive on Procedure<

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