Weekly News (November 8th, 2022)

Compiled by Brad McNeil, Kyle Wyndham-West, and Beatrice Sunderland, with Sara Bannerman  and Fenwick McKelvey

McMaster University, Communications Governance Observatory

The Communications Governance Discussion Group meets every few weeks by Zoom.  Email organizer Derek Hrynyshyn <derekh@yorku.ca> for details.

(November 1 – November 7, 2022)

Canadian News 

• [TELECOMMUNICATIONS/COMPETITION] Rogers-Shaw merger would take out a ‘disruptive, competitive player,’ Competition Bureau lawyer tells tribunal (Toronto Star) 
• [TELECOMMUNICATIONS/COMPETITION] Le Bureau de la concurrence veut toujours bloquer l’accord Rogers-Shaw (La Presse)
• [TELECOMMUNICATIONS/COMPETITION] Competition Bureau squares off against Rogers, Shaw over whether sale of Freedom Mobile would address anti-competitive concerns  (Globe and Mail)
• [TELECOMMUNICATIONS/COMPETITION] As Rogers-Shaw case heads to a trial, how a side deal could lead to cheaper Toronto cellphone bills (Toronto Star) 
• [ELECTION INTERFERENCE] Foreign interference didn’t “impact” integrity of federal election, security expert tells MPs (Toronto Star)
• [PRIVACY] Waterloo researchers make device that can ‘see’ through walls. What does it mean for your privacy? (Toronto Star)
• [BROADCAST REGULATION/Bill C-11] TikTok stars say they may head to U.S. or spoof an American location to avoid form filling over ‘Canadian content’ rules (Globe and Mail) 
• [BILL C-18/ONLINE NEWS ACT] Opposition MPs prepare to amend online news bill to aid community newspapers (Globe and Mail)
• [BILL C-18/ONLINE NEWS ACT] Liberals say Facebook threat to pull news could harm Canadians’ safety  (National Post)
• [ALTERNATIVE SOCIAL MEDIA] Why two Canadians who use Twitter for work are leaving the platform — and where they’re going (Globe and Mail)
• [PLATFORM GOVERNANCE] Musk’s Twitter takeover creates uncertainty for professionals using platform for good (Toronto Star)
• [PLATFORM GOVERNANCE] Twitter quietly rolls out Elon Musk’s $8 monthly verification updates to some. Here’s what that means (Toronto Star)
• [TWITTER/LAYOFFS] Twitter layoffs hit Canadian office, involve at least two of the country’s top staff (Toronto Star)   
• [MEDIA OWNERSHIP/MEDIA MODERATION] Cossette conseille à Ottawa de suspendre ses publicités sur Twitter (Journal de Montréal)
• [PRIVACY] Des données personnelles récoltées sur les sites gouvernementaux (Le Devoir)
• [PLATFORM GOVERNANCE/POLITICAL BIAS] Opinion:Michael Taube: Should the Conservatives be defending social media platforms like Facebook? (National Post) 
• [BILL C-18/PLATFORM GOVERNANCE] Opinion: Emma McDonald: Big Tech will threaten, but Canada doesn’t have to listen  (Calgary Herald) / Emma McDonald: Le retour des menaces des géants de la technologie (La Presse)
• [TWITTER/HARMFUL CONTENT] Opinion: The early returns from Twitter’s new era have been less than encouraging (Globe and Mail)
• [TWITTER/PLATFORM REGULATION] Opinion: Musk takeover of Twitter mean a must for social media regulation (Toronto Star)
• [BILL C-11] Opinion: Jesse Wente: Bill C-11 could help Canadian content become a better reflection of the country (Globe and Mail) 
• [BILL C-11] Opinion: Randy Lennox: It’s time to bring streamers giants inside the Canadian system (Toronto Star)   

International News

• [PRIVACY] Tech giants accuse Labor of ‘overreach’ over bill fining companies $50m for data breaches (The Guardian)
• [TWITTER/COMMUNICATIONS DECENCY ACT/ CONTENT MODERATION] Elon Musk has a decision to make about Section 230: Does he support it or not? (Washington Post) 
• [TWITTER/MIDTERM ELECTION] Twitter layoffs gutted election information teams days before midterms  (Washington Post)
• [TWITTER/CONTENT MODERATION] Twitter owner Musk backs Republicans on eve of U.S. midterms (Reuters)
• [TWITTER/CONTENT MODERATION] Elon Musk Says Blocked Twitter Users Won’t Be Allowed Back Until Process in Place; New Twitter owner says he has spoken to a number of civil-society leaders about company’s policies (The Wall Street Journal)
• [TWITTER/PLATFORM REGULATION/CONTENT MODERATION] Facing a Tide of Criticism, Elon Musk Is Tweeting Through It (New York Times) 
• [TWITTER/HATE SPEECH/CONTENT MODERATION] Resistance to misinformation is weakening on Twitter, a report found. (New York Times)
• [TWITTER/COMPETITION] Why Elon Musk’s Quest to Revive Twitter Is Likely to Fail (The Wall Street Journal) 
• [TWITTER/ADVERTISERS] Twitter lays off staff as Musk blames activists for ‘massive’ ad revenue drop (Reuters)
• [TWITTER/PLATFORM GOVERNANCE] These are the men running Elon Musk’s Twitter  (Washington Post)
• [TWITTER/MEDIA OWNERSHIP] With Musk at the helm, tweeting the boss may actually change Twitter (Washington Post)  
• [TWITTER/MEDIA OWNERSHIP] Twitter workers navigate secretive culture under Musk  (Washington Post) 
• [TWITTER/CONTENT MODERATION] Musk sparks debate on content accuracy with new vision for Twitter (Reuters)
• [TWITTER/PLATFORM REGULATION] As his power grows, Musk worries many in Washington (Washington Post) 
• [TWITTER/CONTENT MODERATION] What Musk might mean for cybersecurity at Twitter ; The new owner has pledged changes that could affect the platform’s security. (Washington Post)
• [ALTERNATIVE SOCIAL MEDIA] Mastodon: What is the social network hailed as a Twitter alternative? (Reuters)
• [SOCIAL MEDIA/MISINFORMATION/ELECTIONS] On Social Media, Hunting for Voter Fraud Becomes a Game (New York Times) 
• [SOCIAL MEDIA/MISINFORMATION/ELECTIONS] This year, Twitter and Facebook gave GOP election deniers a pass (Washington Post)
• [PRIVACY] Security Cameras Make Us Feel Safe, but Are They Worth the Invasion? (New York Times) 
• [PRIVACY] Planning to Fly? You’ll Need This ID (New York Times) 
• [PRIVACY] Fed Up With Political Text Messages? Read On. (New York Times) 
• [TWITTER/HATE SPEECH] Opinion: We Pay an Ugly Cost for Ads on Twitter (New York Times) 

(November 1 – November 7,  2022)

Supreme court of Canada

• Judgments to be Rendered in Leave Applications:
  • 1.       TELUS Communications Inc. v. Marjorie Nelson (Ont.) (Civil) (By Leave) (39957)
  • 2.       Telus Communication inc. c. Directeur des poursuites criminelles et pénales (Office de la protection du consommateur), et al. (Qc) (Civile) (Autorisation) (40192)
  •  3.       Bell Canada c. Directeur des poursuites criminelles et pénales (Office de la protection du consommateur), et al. (Qc) (Civile) (Autorisation) (40193)

Global Media & Internet Concentration Project

Growth & Upheaval in the Network Media Economy in Canada – 11th Edition

Copyright Board of Canada 

• SOCAN Tariff 3.B – Cabarets, Cafes, Clubs, Cocktail Bars, Dining Rooms, Lounges, Restaurants, Roadhouses, Taverns and Similar Establishments – Recorded Music Accompanying Live Entertainment (2018-2025)
  • Reasons (2022 CB 17) November 4, 2022
  • Approved Tariff (2022 CB 17-T) November 5, 2022

Microsoft blog

• Closing the Climate Data Divide in the Global South

CRTC

• Telecom order 2022-307
  [2022-11-07 11:00:00]
  Streamlined order – The Commission approves the following tariff applications: TELUS Communications Inc., TN 647 and TN 648
• Telecom order 2022-306
  [2022-11-07 11:00:00]
  Determination of costs award with respect to the participation of the Deaf Wireless Canada Consultative Committee – Comité consultatif pour les Services Sans fil des Sourds du Canada in the proceeding that led to Telecom Regulatory Policy 2022-234 – File numbers: 1011-NOC2021-0191 and 4754-688
• Telecom order 2022-305
  [2022-11-07 11:00:00]
  Determination of costs award with respect to the participation of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Coalition in the proceeding that led to Telecom Regulatory Policy 2022-234 – File numbers: 1011-NOC2021-0191 and 4754-687
• Telecom order 2022-304
  [2022-11-07 11:00:00]
  Determination of costs award with respect to the participation of the Canada Deaf Grassroots Movement in the proceeding that led to Telecom Regulatory Policy 2022-234 – File numbers: 1011-NOC2021-0191 and 4754-686
• Telecom order 2022-303
  [2022-11-07 11:00:00]
  Determination of costs award with respect to the participation of the Canadian Association of the Deaf-Association des Sourds du Canada in the proceeding that led to Telecom Regulatory Policy 2022-234 – File numbers: 1011-NOC2021-0191 and 4754-678
• Telecom order 2022-302
  [2022-11-07 11:00:00]
  Determination of costs award with respect to the participation of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre in the proceeding that led to Telecom Regulatory Policy 2022-234 – File numbers: 1011-NOC2021-0191 and 4754-677
• Telecom order 2022-301
  [2022-11-07 11:00:00]
  Streamlined order – The Commission approves on a final basis the following tariff application: Northwestel Inc., TN 1166
• Telecom order 2022-300
  [2022-11-07 11:00:00]
  Streamlined order – The Commission approves on an interim basis the following tariff application: Bell Canada, TN 7652
• Telecom order 2022-299
  [2022-11-02 11:00:00]
  Streamlined order – The Commission approves on a final basis the following tariff application: Bell Aliant, a division of Bell Canada, TN 565
• Broadcasting notice of consultation 2022-298
  [2022-11-02 11:00:00]
  Notice of hearing 19 January 2023 – National Capital Region – Deadline for submission of interventions/comments/answers: 2 December 2022
• Broadcasting order 2022-297
  [2022-11-01 11:00:00]
  Distribution of national news discretionary services
• Broadcasting decision 2022-296
  [2022-11-01 11:00:00]
  The News Forum Inc. – Across Canada – Application for distribution of the national news service The News Forum

Senate of Canada

• Planned & Possible sitting days this week:  Next sitting day: November 14, 2022.

Canadian House of Commons

• Planned & Possible sitting days this week: Next sitting day: November 14, 2022.

CRTC

• Anticipated releases for the week of 7 to 10 November 2022:
  • Broadcasting Decision:
    • Nostalgia Broadcasting Cooperative Inc. Winnipeg, Manitoba CJNU-FM Winnipeg – Technical changes Public record: 2022-0787-8
  • Telecom Decision:
    • CISC Canadian Steering Committee on Numbering – Consensus report CNRE134A regarding setting aside five area codes for future relief of exhausting area code complexes Public record: 8621-C12-01/08
• Public Hearing:
  • November 18, 2022 – Gatineau Quebec To consider the broadcasting applications listed in Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2022-248, View hearing documents (2022-248)

Open Proceedings

• CRTC Open Broadcasting Proceedings
• CRTC Open Telecom Proceedings

Public Consultations: 

• CRTC: 
  • 1) Share your ideas and comments about telecommunications services in the Far North (October 24, 2022-December 12, 2022) 
  • 2) Share your views on a request made by TV service providers to raise basic cable rates (September 28-November 28, 2022) 
• Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada:
  • Consultation on Updates to the Licensing and Fee Framework for Earth Stations and Space Stations in Canada (reply comments due November 8, 2021)

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

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