Weekly News (August 29, 2023)

Compiled by Brad McNeil and Manveetha Muddaluru with Sara Bannerman

McMaster University, Communications Governance Observatory

(August 22 – August 28, 2023)

Canadian News 

• [PRIVACY]  Prevent illegal mass data extraction, privacy authorities tell social media firms (CTV News) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] Federal government’s generative-AI consultation ‘odd’ and ‘secretive,’ critics say (National Post) 
• [ONLINE NEWS ACT] Trudeau minister says online news deal for Meta is within reach — but tech giant remains doubtful  (Toronto Star) 
• [ONLINE NEWS ACT] Despite Meta’s firm stance on news-blocking, heritage minister still hopeful for solution  (National Post)
• [ONLINE NEWS ACT] Trudeau slams Facebook for removal of news during wildfire season  (National Post) 
• [CYBERSECURITY] Cybercriminals in Russia and Iran will threaten Canada’s security and economic prosperity, say intelligence agency and RCMP (The Globe and Mail) 
• [TELECOMMUNICATIONS] Rogers calls Telus ‘hypocritical’ in CRTC filing as dispute over TTC wireless network continues (The Globe and Mail) 
• [TELECOMMUNICATIONS] Bell and Telus slam Rogers for launching wireless service on TTC before federal consultations complete  (Toronto Star) 
• [ONLINE NEWS ACT] Daughter of former Quebec premier says Meta news ban torpedoed her site on palliative care (The Globe and Mail) 
• [ONLINE NEWS ACT] Canadians being urged to stop posting on Facebook, Instagram by advocacy group (National Post) 
• [ONLINE NEWS ACT] Hundreds of AI ‘news’ sites busily spew misinformation. Google and Meta’s Canadian news ban may make it worse (Toronto Star) 
• [TELECOMMUNICATIONS/COMPETITION] Quebecor asks industry minister to intervene in dispute with Rogers over MVNO rates (The Globe and Mail) 
• [TELECOMMUNICATIONS] CRTC halts radio work for two years, citing Online Streaming Act implementation  (National Post) 
• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] Ontario court rules against Jordan Peterson, upholds social media training order (The Globe and Mail) 
• [ACCESS TO INFORMATION] Ottawa rejected independent study of access to information system in favour of internal review, documents reveal (The Globe and Mail) 
• [TELECOMMUNICATIONS] Canada’s emergency alerts are being used more often, but their funding model is shrinking (The Globe and Mail)  
• [ONLINE NEWS ACT] X, formerly Twitter, to change how news appears on platform by removing headlines and text  (Toronto Star) 
• [PRIVACY] N.B. education minister doubles down on changes to gender policy (Penticton Herald) 
• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] OPINION: Christine Van Geyn: Jordan Peterson losing free expression case puts us all at risk (National Post)  
• [FREEDOM OF INFORMATION] OPINION: Paul Webster: Ontario keeping costs of Highway 413 hidden from public (Toronto Star) 
• [ONLINE NEWS ACT] OPINION: Gordon A. Gow: As Canadian wildfires rage, Facebook’s news ban reveals the importance of radio (The Conversation) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] OPINION: Gideon Christian: AI facial recognition technology: the black box hurting Black people (Toronto Star) 
• [TELECOMMUNICATIONS/MEDIA] OPINION: Konrad Yakabuski: BCE and Quebecor wage a war of attrition in French-language specialty TV (The Globe and Mail) 
• [SURVEILLANCE] OPINION: Rob Huebert: China is on a relentless mission to control Canada’s Arctic waters (The Globe and Mail) 

International News

• [PLATFORM REGULATION] Google vows more transparency on ads as new EU rules kick in (Reuters)
• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] Denmark Moves to Ban Quran Burnings After Muslim Outrage (New York Times) 
• [DISINFORMATION] Sweden Is Not Staying Neutral in Russia’s Information War (New York Times) 
• [HARMFUL SPEECH] City in Mexico Bans Performances of Songs With Misogynistic Lyrics (New York Times) 
• [PLATFORM REGULATION] Big Tech braces for EU Digital Services Act regulations (Reuters)
• [PLATFORM REGULATION] Facebook owner Meta breaks privacy rules, Norway regulator tells court (Reuters) 
• [PLATFORM REGULATION] Apple’s surprising about-face on ‘right to repair’ ; The tech giant has lobbied against similar efforts for years. (Washington post) 
• [CONTENT MODERATION/LABOUR] Kenyan court orders mediation in Meta labour dispute (Reuters) 
• [PRIVACY] YouTube Used Targeted Ad Campaign On Children’s Videos, Watchdogs Say (New York Times)  
• [PRIVACY] Not everything is secret in encrypted apps like iMessage and WhatsApp  (Washington Post) 
• [DEFAMATION] Fox challenges man’s suit over Jan. 6 commentary (Washington Post) 
• [COMPETITION/PLATFORM REGULATION] Musk’s throttling of links from some news outlets, competitors stokes legal concerns (Washington Post) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/LABOUR] Behind the AI boom, an army of overseas workers in ‘digital sweatshops’ (Washington Post)  
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] Google Tests an A.I. Assistant That Offers Life Advice (New York Times) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] ChatGPT breaks its own rules on political messages (Washington Post)  
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/PLATFORM REGULATION] The U.S. Regulates Cars, Radio and TV. When Will It Regulate A.I.? (New York Times) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] Firefighters in California Are Working With A.I. To Spot and Stop Fires (New York Times)
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/LABOUR] Hollywood writers are still on strike. Here’s where WGA, studios stand. (Washington Post)  
• [FREE PRESS] How a small-town feud in Kansas sent a shock through American journalism (Washington Post)  
• [HATE SPEECH] From Nazi propaganda to Holocaust denial, social media is pushing hate on users: study (USA Today) 
• [CONTENT MODERATION] Can Elon Musk Make Politics Work on X? (Wall Street Journal) 
• [CONTENT MODERATION/DISINFORMATION] Following Elon Musk’s lead, Big Tech is surrendering to disinformation  (Washington Post) 
• [PRIVACY] Ignored by police, twin sisters took down their cyberstalker themselves (Washington Post) 
• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION/CENSORSHIP] OPINION: Editorial Board: In Egypt, a voice of protest is jailed. End the carousel of repression.  (Washington Post)  
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY] OPINION: Farhad Manjoo: A Creator (Me) Made a Masterpiece With A.I. (New York Times) 

(August 22 – August 28, 2023)

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

• Governments of Canada and Ontario investing over $219 million to bring high-speed Internet access to more than 66,000 households in over 300 communities in southern Ontario

Communications Security Establishment Canada

• Media briefing by the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on cybercrime in Canada
• Cyber Centre releases Baseline Cyber Threat Assessment on Cybercrime with support from RCMP

Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada:

• Social media companies should take steps to prevent unlawful data scraping, global privacy authorities say
• OPC’s Contributions Program funds research into impact of technology on privacy

CRTC:

• CRTC announces plan to implement Online News Act
• Change to the processing time for applications and complaints relating to radio undertakings 

Broadcasting and Telecoms 

• Broadcasting decision 2023-296
  [2023-08-28 11:00:00]
  Radio 1540 Limited – Toronto, Ontario – Application to renew the broadcasting licence for the commercial ethnic specialty radio station CHIN-1-FM Toronto
• Broadcasting decision 2023-295
  [2023-08-28 11:00:00]
  CIRC Radio Inc. – Toronto, Ontario – Application to renew the broadcasting licence for the commercial ethnic specialty radio station CIRV-FM Toronto
• Broadcasting decision 2023-294
  [2023-08-28 11:00:00]
  CFMU Radio Incorporated – Hamilton, Ontario – Application to renew the broadcasting licence for the English-language campus radio station CFMU-FM Hamilton
• Telecom order 2023-293
  [2023-08-28 11:00:00]
  Broadband Fund Payment Order – Approval of Claim Forms – August 2023 – Public record: 1011-NOC2019-0372
• Telecom order 2023-292
  [2023-08-28 11:00:00]
  Broadband Fund – Acceptance of statement of work for TELUS Communications Inc.’s access and mobile project in British Columbia (Central Interior) – Public record: 1011-NOC2019-0372
• Broadcasting decision 2023-291
  [2023-08-25 11:00:00]
  Comwave Networks Inc. – Greater Toronto, Hamilton, Kitchener, London, Ottawa, Windsor and their surrounding areas, Ontario – Application to revoke the broadcasting licence for the terrestrial broadcasting distribution undertakings serving various areas in Ontario
• Broadcasting decision 2023-290
  [2023-08-25 11:00:00]
  Radio-Ville-Marie – Montréal, Quebec – Application to renew the broadcasting licence for the French-language predominantly religious commercial radio station CIRA-FM Montréal, and its transmitters CIRA-FM-2 Trois-Rivières, CIRA-FM-3 Victoriaville and CIRA-FM-4 Rimouski
• Broadcasting decision 2023-289
  [2023-08-25 11:00:00]
  Radio Anticosti – Port-Menier, Quebec – Application to renew the broadcasting licence for the French-language community radio station CJBE-FM Port-Menier – Application to amend the condition of service relating to spoken word programming
• Broadcasting decision 2023-288
  [2023-08-25 11:00:00]
  Hollywood Suite Corp. and Hollywood Suite Inc. – Across Canada – Application to renew the broadcasting licences for the national, English-language discretionary services Hollywood Suite 70s Movies, Hollywood Suite 80s Movies, Hollywood Suite 90s Movies and Hollywood Suite 2000s Movies
• Broadcasting decision 2023-287
  [2023-08-25 11:00:00]
  Cogeco Connexion Inc. – Montréal, Quebec – Application to renew the broadcasting licence for the on-demand service Cogeco On Demand
• Broadcasting decision 2023-286
  [2023-08-25 11:00:00]
  Newfoundland Broadcasting Company Limited – St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador – Application to renew the broadcasting licence for the English-language independent conventional television station CJON-DT St. John’s
• Telecom order 2023-285
  [2023-08-24 11:00:00]
  Streamlined order – The Commission approves the following tariff application: Rogers Communications Canada Inc., TN 80
• Broadcasting decision 2023-284
  [2023-08-24 11:00:00]
  Various radio and specialty audio programming undertakings – Across Canada – Renewal of the broadcasting licences for the radio stations and the specialty audio stations set out in the appendix to the decision
• Broadcasting decision 2023-283
  [2023-08-24 11:00:00]
  TLN Media Group Inc. – Across Canada – Application to renew the broadcasting licence for the national discretionary service Telelatino
• Telecom order 2023-282
  [2023-08-24 11:00:00]
  Streamlined order – The Commission approves on a final basis the following tariff application: Bell MTS Inc., TN 857
• Broadcasting decision 2023-281
  [2023-08-24 11:00:00]
  Radio Témiscamingue incorporée – Ville-Marie, Quebec – Application to renew the broadcasting licence for the French-language commercial radio station CKVM-FM Ville-Marie and its transmitter CKVM-1-FM Témiscaming
• Broadcasting notice of consultation 2023-280
  [2023-08-23 11:00:00]
  Call for comments – Proposed new Broadcasting Fees Regulations – Public record: 1011-NOC2023-0280
• Broadcasting decision 2023-279
  [2023-08-23 11:00:00]
  La radio communautaire du comté – Rimouski and Mont-Joli, Quebec – Application to renew the broadcasting licence for the French-language community radio station CKMN-FM Rimouski/Mont-Joli
• Broadcasting information bulletin 2023-278
  [2023-08-22 11:00:00]
  Change to the processing time for applications and complaints relating to radio undertakings
• Telecom order 2023-277
  [2023-08-22 11:00:00]
  Streamlined order – The Commission approves on a final basis the following tariff applications: Bell Canada, TN 7672 and NorthernTel, Limited Partnership, TN 419
• Telecom order 2023-276
  [2023-08-22 11:00:00]
  Streamlined order – The Commission approves the following tariff applications: Télébec, Société en commandite, TN 538 and TN 539
• Telecom order 2023-275
  [2023-08-22 11:00:00]
  Streamlined order – The Commission approves on an interim basis the following tariff application: Northwestel Inc., TN 1186
• Telecom order 2023-274
  [2023-08-22 11:00:00]
  Streamlined order – The Commission approves the following tariff application: Northwestel Inc., TN 1182
• Telecom order 2023-273
  [2023-08-22 11:00:00]
  Broadband Fund – Acceptance of statement of work for Sogetel Mobilité inc.’s mobile project in southern Quebec (Route 204) – Public record: 1011-NOC2019-0372
• Telecom order 2023-272
  [2023-08-22 11:00:00]
  Broadband Fund – Acceptance of statement of work for TELUS Communications Inc.’s mobile project in the central interior of British Columbia – Public record: 1011-NOC2019-0372
• Broadcasting decision 2023-271
  [2023-08-22 11:00:00]
  Les Médias de l’Épinette Noire Inc. – Across Canada – Application to renew the broadcasting licence for the community radio station CINN-FM Hearst
• Broadcasting decision 2023-270
  [2023-08-22 11:00:00]
  Sonème (2007) inc. – Mont-Laurier, Quebec – Application to renew the broadcasting licence for the French-language commercial radio station CFLO-FM Mont-Laurier and its transmitter CFLO-FM-1 L’Annonciation

Meta

• New Features and Additional Transparency Measures as the Digital Services Act Comes Into Effect

YouTube:

• An artist-centric approach to AI innovation

Microsoft

• From tipping point to turning point: Charting new pathways for rebuilding local news
• India’s AI Opportunity

Supreme Court of Canada:

• Judgments to be Rendered in Leave Applications: The Supreme Court of Canada announced today that judgment in the following leave applications will be delivered at 9:45 am EDT on Thursday, August 31, 2023. This list is subject to change.

• [TARGETED ADVERTISING/CLASS ACTION] Facebook, Inc., et al. v. Lyse Beaulieu (Que.) (Civil) (By Leave) (40620)

Senate of Canada

• Planned and Possible Sitting Days: The Senate will not sit during the week August 21 to 25, 2023. The Senate is adjourned until September 19, 2023.

House of Commons

• Planned and Possible Sitting Days: the House of Commons will not sit during the week of August 21 to 25, 2023. The House is adjourned until Monday, September 18, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. (EDT). 

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

• Anticipated releases for the week of 28 August to 1 September 2023
  • Broadcasting Decisions:
    • Applications by various licensees to renew the broadcasting licenses for various radio and TV stations
• CRTC Open Broadcasting Proceedings
  • Call for comments – Proposed new Broadcasting Fees Regulations – Deadline: 22 September 2023
• CRTC Open Telecom Proceedings

Consultations:

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

•   Consultation on amendments to the Patent Rules – Planned: Aug 7, 2023 to Sept 8, 2023 

•   Development of a Canadian code of practice for generative AI – Open: Aug 4, 2023 to Sept 14, 2023

Canadian Heritage

•  Engagement sessions with Canadian book publishers and book industry stakeholders – Planned: May 30, 2023 to Sept 29, 2023 

Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat:

• Creating Canada’s 6th National Action Plan on Open Government – Planned: Sept 1, 2023 to Oct 31, 2023

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