Weekly Newsletter for October 3, 2023
| Weekly News (October 3, 2023) Compiled by Ian Steinberg with Sara Bannerman McMaster University, Communications Governance Observatory  (September 27 – October 3, 2023) Canadian News • [PRIVACY/PLATFORM REGULATION] Federal Court of Appeal ruling opens door for Canadians to have ‘right to be forgotten’ on Google (Globe and Mail) • [BROADCAST/ONLINE STREAMING ACT] CRTC sets threshold for online streaming services subject to Bill C-11 (Toronto Star) • [ONLINE NEWS ACT] Ottawa bid to bring Google onside over Bill C-18 falls short (Globe and Mail) • [PRIVACY/ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] Liberals won’t provide text of amendments to privacy, AI legislation to MPs studying bill after all (National Post) • [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] Ottawa rolls out voluntary code of conduct for AI (Toronto Star) • [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] Canadian tech companies sign on to AI code of conduct as law evolves (Globe and Mail) • [PLATFORM REGULATION] Heritage minister urges U.S. to stand strong with Canada in regulating tech giants like Meta (Globe and Mail) • [FREEDOM OF INFORMATION] Saskatchewan information watchdog’s lack of power lets institutions skirt access law (Globe and Mail) • [FREEDOM OF INFORMATION] Alberta ministries face extensive review over access requests (Globe and Mail) • [FREEDOM OF INFORMATION] Nova Scotia to review freedom of information legislation after years of criticism (Global News) • [WIRELESS] Canada has some of the most expensive cell data plans in the world, finds new report (Toronto Star) • [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] Experts say AI has a bias problem (Hamilton Spectator) • [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] First there was streaming music, then AI began stealing voices. Here’s why the head of Canada’s largest music label isn’t worried (Toronto Star) • [FREEDOM OF INFORMATION] Opinion: Secret Canada: How Alberta is turning freedom of information into a Why Do You Need To Know Act (Globe and Mail) • [ONLINE NEWS ACT] Opinion: Althia Raj: Google is threatening to block Canadian news. Here’s what Ottawa is trying to do to stop it (Toronto Star) • [ACCESS TO INFORMATION] Opinion: Dean Beeby: The Access to Information Act needs urgent repair. Will Pierre Poilievre be the politician to fix it? (Globe and Mail) International News • [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] Can the U.N. really regulate the power — and danger — of AI? (Washington Post) • [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/PRIVACY] The European Central Bank Is Studying Use of A.I. (New York Times) • [PRIVACY] Consumer finance group seeks more privacy in digital euro use (Reuters) • [DISINFORMATION] E.U. Law Sets the Stage for a Clash Over Disinformation (New York Times) • [PLATFORM REGULATION] After long partisan deadlock at the FCC, battle over ‘net neutrality’ is back (Washington Post) • [PLATFORM REGULATION] The Supreme Court will decide if state laws limiting social media platforms violate the Constitution (AP) • [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] National Security Agency is starting an artificial intelligence security center (AP) • [PLATFORM REGULATION] China’s Latest Tech Regulations Threaten Apple’s App Business (Wall Street Journal) • [DISINFORMATION] China Is Investing Billions in Global Disinformation Campaign, US says (Wall Street Journal) • [ANTITRUST] Lina Khan vs. Jeff Bezos: This Is Big Tech’s Real Cage Match (New York TImes) • [PRIVACY] A key US government surveillance tool should face new limits, a divided privacy oversight board says (AP) • [TELECOM REGULATION] US government issues first-ever space debris penalty to Dish Network (Guardian) • [MEDIA INDUSTRY/LABOUR] TV and Movie Writers to Begin Returning to Work on Wednesday (New York Times) • [MEDIA INDUSTRY/LABOUR] Striking Hollywood actors resume contract talks with studios, networks (Reuters) • [PRIVACY] Samsung ‘hoist with its own petard’ in court ruling that could cost it millions for alleged violations of Illinois biometric privacy law (Chicago Tribune) • [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] AI is replacing customer service jobs across the globe (Washington Post) • [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] Tom Hanks Warns of Dental Ad Using A.I. Version of Him (New York TImes) • [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] Microsoft CEO Says Google’s Agreements With Apple Unfairly Harmed Bing (Wall Street Journal) • [PRIVACY/PLATFORM GOVERNANCE] Meta Plans to Charge $14 a Month for Ad-Free Instagram or Facebook (Wall Street Journal) • [HATE SPEECH] Under India’s pressure, Facebook let propaganda and hate speech thrive (Washington Post) • [FREEDOM OF THE PRESS] India police search journalists’ homes and offices in the country’s latest raids on media (AP) • [CENSORSHIP] Turkish film festival cancelled after row over censorship (Reuters) • [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] Editorial: The Hollywood writers negotiated a sensible approach to AI. Other humans should pay attention. (Chicago Tribune)  (September 27 – October 3, 2023) Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission • CRTC takes major step forward to modernize Canada’s broadcasting framework • Modernizing the broadcasting system • Policy Announcements 2023-329 – Online Undertakings Registration Regulations, and exemption order regarding those regulations 2023-331 – Review of exemption orders and transition from conditions of exemption to conditions of service for broadcasting online undertakings • Broadcasting and Telecoms: Broadcasting order 2023-332 [2023-09-29 14:00:00] Conditions of service for carrying on certain online undertakings – Pursuant to subsection 9.1(1) of the Broadcasting Act (the Act), the Commission orders certain online undertakings to comply with the conditions set out in the order Broadcasting order 2023-330 [2023-09-29 14:00:00] Exemption order for classes of online undertakings in respect of the Online Undertakings Registration Regulations – Pursuant to section 9(4) of the Broadcasting Act, the Commission exempts from all of the requirements of the Online Undertakings Registration Regulations, as amended from time to time, those persons carrying on in whole or in part in Canada online undertakings of any of the classes specified in the order, subject to the conditions set out in the order Telecom order 2023-328 [2023-09-28 11:00:00] Télébec, Société en commandite – Destandardization of residential call management services – Public record: Tariff Notice 536 Telecom order 2023-327 [2023-09-28 11:00:00] Broadband Fund Payment Order – Approval of Claim Forms – September 2023 – Public records: 1011-NOC2019-0191 and 1011-NOC2019-0372 Communication Security Establishment • Cyber Security Awareness Month 2023 • Statement by the Minister of National Defence on the start of Cyber Security Awareness Month Competition Bureau • The Dufresne Group to pay $3.25 million penalty to settle Competition Bureau concerns over marketing claims Federal Court of Appeal • Google LLC v. Canada (Privacy Commissioner) Elections Canada • Implementation of New Federal Electoral Boundaries Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada • Minister Champagne launches voluntary code of conduct relating to advanced generative AI systems Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada • Appearance before the Standing Committee on Industry and Technology (INDU) on the Study of Bill C-27 Amazon • The latest from Amazon’s Counterfeit Crimes Unit • The FTC’s lawsuit against Amazon would lead to higher prices and slower deliveries for consumers—and hurt businesses Read Amazon’s response to the FTC’s antitrust complaint Meta • Privacy Matters: Meta’s Generative AI Features • Introducing New AI Experiences Across Our Family of Apps and Devices Microsoft • Creating a more disability-inclusive workplace Senate of Canada • Planned and Possible Sitting Days: October 2 to 6 , 2023 House of Commons • Planned and Possible Sitting Days: October 3 to 6, 2023 (ETHI) Wed. Oct. 4, 2023, Foreign Interference 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm Fri. Oct. 6, 2023, Private Member’s Business C-244 An Act to amend the Copyright Act (diagnosis, maintenance and repair) Third reading (first time debated) Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission • Anticipated releases for the week of 3 to 6 October 2023: • Broadcasting Decisions: Applications by various licensees to renew the broadcasting licences for television stations Radio Blanc-Sablon inc. Lourdes-de-Blanc-Sablon, Quebec CFBS-FM Lourdes-de-Blanc-Sablon – New transmitter in L’Anse-au-Clair Public record: 2023-0016-9 Telecom Decision: CRTC Interconnection Steering Committee Emergency Services Working Group – Consensus report – Updates to the wireless location accuracy benchmarks Public record: 8669-C12-01/01 Upcoming Hearings November 20, 2023 – Gatineau, Quebec To consider the broadcasting applications listed in Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2023-138, 2023-138-1 View hearing documents (2023-138) CRTC Open Broadcasting Proceedings CRTC Open Telecom Proceedings Competition Bureau • Canada’s Competition Summit 2023 to explore policy approaches to unlock competition October 5, 2023 Supreme Court of Canada • Judgments to be rendered on appeals Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, et al. v. Aydin Coban, et al. (B.C.) (40223) • Public Hearings York Region District School Board v. Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (Ont.) (Civil) (By Leave) (40360) 2023-10-18 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation v. His Majesty the King, et al. (Man.) (Civil) (By Leave) (38992) 2023-10-19 Consultations: Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat: • Creating Canada’s 6th National Action Plan on Open Government – Planned: Sept 1, 2023 to Oct 31, 2023 Have a suggestion? Email Sara Bannerman at banners@mcmaster.ca To subscribe to this list, send an email to ncgl-news-l-join@mcmaster.ca To unsubscribe from this list, send an email to ncgl-news-l-leave@mcmaster.ca |