Weekly Newsletter for March 11, 2025

Weekly News (March 11, 2025)

Compiled by Brad McNeil and Serra Hasiloglu with Sara Bannerman

McMaster University, Communications Governance Observatory

(March 5 – 11, 2025)

Canadian News

• [ELECTIONS/ADVERTISING] Top court finds Ontario spending limits on 3rd-party election ads unconstitutional (CBC)
• [ELECTIONS/ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/CYBERSECURITY] 2025 federal election ‘very likely’ to be target of AI meddling by China, Russia and Iran, cyber agency warns (Globe and Mail)
• [PRIVACY] Federal privacy watchdog heads to court over Pornhub operator’s consent practices(CBC)
• [LAWSUIT/CONTRACT WORK] Ottawa alleges IT subcontractor billed for more than 24 hours of work in a day (Globe and Mail)
• [TELECOMMUNICATIONS] CRTC delays implementation of next-generation 911 service for two years (Hamilton Spectator)
• [TELECOMMUNICATIONS] ‘Not going back’: Ford will cancel Starlink-Ontario deal even if tariffs are lifted (Global News)
• [FREEDOM OF INFORMATION] Information watchdog investigating top department’s record keeping in ‘green slush fund’ appointment (Financial Post) 
• [TELECOMMUNICATIONS/INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES] Minister eyes 2031 completion date for Nunavut fibre internet project (Nunatsiaq News)
• [SCAM/CRYPTOCURRENCY] Alberta, New Brunswick securities regulators warn of suspected crypto investment scam with fake news articles (Globe and Mail)
• [SCAM/PERSONAL INFORMATION] U.S. authorities charge 25 Canadians in alleged scam that defrauded elderly Americans (Globe and Mail)
• [INNOVATION] The move-fast-and-break-things era is over. Businesses now need a licence to innovate (Globe and Mail)
• [INNOVATION] Digital innovators see Buy Canadian as opportunity to scale up (Globe and Mail)
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] AI slowly gains traction as life insurers experiment with new uses(Globe and Mail)
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/COPYRIGHT] Céline Dion joins the list of musicians sounding the alarm on fake AI-generated songs (CBC)
• [BIG TECH/POLITICAL INFLUENCE] OPINION: Lisa Sygutek: The federal government needs to practise what it preaches and stop lining the pockets of ‘broligarchs’ (Toronto Star)
• [BIG TECH/POLITICAL INFLUENCE] OPINION: Keldon Bester: How Big Tech — not just Trump tariffs — is now the real threat to Canada’s sovereignty (Toronto Star)
• [DISINFORMATION] OPINION: Kevin Newman: Canada’s greatest vulnerability is disinformation, and we have no defence for it (Globe and Mail)
• [ONLINE STREAMING/SURVEILLANCE/PRIVACY] OPINION: Vass Bednar: Enjoy watching TV? Because it likes watching you (Globe and Mail)

International News

• [ONLINE HARMS/DEEPFAKES] Google reports scale of complaints about AI deepfake terrorism content to Australian regulator (Reuters)
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/MILITARY/SURVEILLANCE] Revealed: Israeli military creating ChatGPT-like tool using vast collection of Palestinian surveillance data (Guardian) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/MILITARY] NATO armies unprepared for drone wars, Ukraine commander warns (Reuters)
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/DATA CENTERS] Blackstone’s plans for northern England ‘hyperscale’ data centre get green light (Reuters)
• [BIG TECH/COMPETITION] Microsoft-OpenAI Partnership Gets U.K. Antitrust Clearance (Wall Street Journal)
• [BIG TECH/POLITICAL INFLUENCE/COMPETITION] US drops bid to make Google sell AI investments in antitrust case (Reuters)
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/MILITARY] Pentagon signs AI deal to help commanders plan military maneuvers (Washington Post)
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/FREE SPEECH] Rights advocates concerned by reported US plan to use AI to revoke student visas (Reuters)
• [FREE SPEECH/CAMPUS PROTESTS] US immigration agents arrest Palestinian student protester at Columbia University in Trump crackdown (Reuters)
• [BIG TECH/CONTENT MODERATION] US House panel subpoenas Alphabet over content moderation (Reuters)
• [BIG TECH] Judge Denies Musk’s Request to Block OpenAI’s For-Profit Plan (New York Times)
• [BIG TECH/ENERGY] Facing competition from Big Tech, states dangle incentives and loosen laws to attract power plants (Associated Press)
• [BIG TECH/DATA CENTERS] Amazon loses fight to exempt data center from energy regulation(Washington Post)
• [ADVERTISING/CONTENT MODERATION/PLATFORM REGULATION] Senators Call for DOJ Probe of X’s Advertiser Pressure Campaign (Wall Street Journal)
• [ONLINE HARMS/DEEPFAKES] Melania Trump joins push for law on deepfakes, nonconsensual porn (Washington Post)
• [PERSONAL INFORMATION/CYBERSECURITY] New York sues Allstate over data breach, alleged security lapses (Reuters)
• [PRIVACY/PERSONAL INFORMATION] Florida Seeks Drug Prescription Data With Names of Patients and Doctors (New York Times)
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] Are AI-generated video games really on the horizon? (Guardian)
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/ADVERTISING] AI Will Soon Dominate Ad Buying, Whether Marketers Like It or Not (Wall Street Journal)
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/BOOK PUBLISHING/COPYRIGHT] OPINION: Toby Walsh: I have been an AI researcher for 40 years. What tech giants are doing to book publishing is akin to theft (Guardian)

(March 5 – 11, 2025)

Supreme Court of Canada

• The Supreme Court of Canada has decided the following leave applications.
  • [FREEDOM OF INFORMATION] DISMISSED: Michael Lesage v. Attorney General of Ontario (Ont.) (Civil) (By Leave) (41437)
  • [PERSONAL INFORMATION] DISMISSED: South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority v. G.D., Allan Smith, Christopher Holt, James Thom and Brent Johnston (B.C.) (Civil) (By Leave) (41452)
• The Supreme Court of Canada has delivered its judgment in the following appeal. The Court invites you to read the reasons for judgment and the plain language summary called a Case in Brief.
  • [ELECTIONS/ADVERTISING] DISMISSED: Attorney General of Ontario v. Working Families Coalition (Canada) Inc., et al. – 2025 SCC 5

Federal Court of Canada

• [ADVERTISING/CONTENT MODERATION] Gorenstein v. Meta Platforms, Inc. – 2025 FC 410

Communications Security Establishment Canada

• News release:
  • Communications Security Establishment Canada releases 2025 update to report on cyber threats to Canada’s democratic process  

Global Affairs Canada

• Statement:
  • Rapid Response Mechanism Canada detects second ‘Spamouflage’ campaign targeting Canada-based Chinese-language commentators and their families

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

• Statement:
  • Minister Champagne approved pilot project for use of frequency jammers at select correctional facilities
• News releases:
  • Government of Canada introduces AI Compute Access Fund to support Canadian innovators
  • Canada moves toward safe and responsible artificial intelligence
  • Government of Canada announces additional spectrum to support improved connectivity and innovative 5G applications

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

• Speech:
  • Bram Abramson to the CanWISP Annual Conference
• Broadcasting and Telecoms:
  • Telecom order 2025-74
    [2025-03-10 11:00:00]
    Northwestel Inc. – Introduction of Winback Discount for Residential Unlimited Internet Packages – Public record: Tariff Notice 1231
  • Telecom order 2025-73
    [2025-03-07 11:00:00]
    Determination of Costs Award – Determination of costs award with respect to the participation of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre in the proceeding initiated by Rogers Communications Canada Inc. – File numbers: 8690-R28-202404201 and 4754-758
  • Telecom notice of consultation 2025-20-1
    [2025-03-07 11:00:00]
    Call for comments – Improving the routing of 9-8-8 calls and texts – Change to procedure – New deadline for the submission of replies: 31 March 2025 – Public record: 1011-NOC2025-0020
  • Telecom notice of consultation 2025-10-1
    [2025-03-06 11:00:00]
    Call for comments – Implementing a retail Internet service subsidy in the Far North – Change to procedure – New deadline for the submission of replies: 21 March 2025 – Public record: 1011-NOC2025-0010
  • Broadcasting notice of consultation 2025-72
    [2025-03-06 11:00:00]
    Call for comments on market capacity and the appropriateness of issuing a call for radio applications to serve Wingham, Ontario, and surrounding areas – Deadline for submission of comments: 7 April 2025 – Deadline for submission of replies: 22 April 2025 – Public record: 1011-NOC2025-0072
  • Telecom order 2025-71
    [2025-03-06 11:00:00]
    Streamlined order – The Commission approves on an interim basis the following tariff application: CoopTel, coop de telecommunication, TN 91
  • Telecom order 2025-70
    [2025-03-05 11:00:00]
    Broadband Fund payment order – Approval of holdback reports – February 2025 – Public record: 1011-NOC2019-0372
  • Telecom order 2025-69
    [2025-03-05 11:00:00]
    Broadband Fund payment order – Approval of claim forms – February 2025 – Public records:1011-NOC2019-0191, 1011-NOC2019-0372, and 1011-NOC2022-0325
  • Telecom order 2025-68
    [2025-03-04 11:00:00]
    Streamlined order – The Commission approves on an interim basis, by majority decision, the following tariff application: Northwestel Inc., TN 1244

United Nations

• Online ‘manosphere’ is moving misogyny to the mainstream

Amazon

• AWS is first cloud service provider to offer DeepSeek-R1 as fully managed, generally available model
• Prime Video begins an AI dubbing pilot program on licensed movies and series

Apple

• Apple reveals M3 Ultra, taking Apple silicon to a new extreme

Microsoft

• Enhancing cybersecurity for rural health resilience
• How real-world businesses are transforming with AI — with more than 140 new stories

Senate of Canada

• The Senate sitting and possible sitting days:  Parliament is prorogued – The prorogation of the first session of the 44^th Parliament was proclaimed on January 6, 2025. Parliamentary business, including committee business (other than the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration, Standing Committee on Ethics and Conflict of Interest for Senatorsand the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight), is ended and will reconvene on March 24, 2025 for the second session of the 44^th Parliament.

House of Commons

• The House of Commons sitting and possible sitting days:  The 1st session of the 44th Parliament was prorogued on January 6, 2025. Prorogation occurs when the Governor General, on the advice of the Prime Minister, issues a proclamation putting an end to a parliamentary session. In practice, as soon as Parliament is either prorogued or dissolved, all committee activity ceases and, as such, all orders of reference and committee studies lapse. 

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

• Anticipated releases for the week of 10 to 14 March 2025:
  • The CRTC plans to issue the following decisions, notices of consultation, orders and/or regulatory policies in the week of 10 to 14 March 2025. This is subject to change without notice. 
  • Broadcasting Decisions:
    • DHX Television Ltd.
      Across Canada
      Complaint by DHX Television Ltd., carrying on business as WildBrain Television, against Bell Canada and any of its owned or affiliated broadcasting distribution undertakings, alleging undue preference regarding the distribution of Family Channel, Family Jr., WildBrain TV and Télémagino
      Public record: 2023-0437-7
    • Joel Lagacé, on behalf of a not-for-profit corporation to be incorporated
      Cochrane, Ontario
      English-language developmental community FM radio station in Cochrane
      Public record: 2023-0445-0
    • Arsenal Media Inc.
      Various locations in Quebec
      CFEI-FM Saint-Hyacinthe, CFVM-FM Amqui, CFZZ-FM Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, CHRD-FM and CJDM-FM Drummondville, CIKI-FM Rimouski and its transmitter CIKI FM-2 Sainte-Marguerite-Marie, and CJOI-FM Rimouski – Change in ownership and effective control
      Public record: 2024-0071-1
  • Telecom Orders:
• Bell Canada and TELUS Communications Inc. – Interim wholesale support structure rates
  Public records: Bell Canada Tariff Notice 981 and TELUS Communications Inc. Tariff Notice 590
• Northwestel Inc. – Introduction of Winback Discount for Residential Unlimited Internet Packages
  Public record: Tariff Notice 1231
• Upcoming hearings:
  • March 27, 2025 – National Capital Region
    Notice of hearing – The Commission intends to consider the following applications, subject to interventions, without the appearance of the parties in Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2025-18 – View hearing documents (2025-18
  • March 31, 2025 – Gatineau (Québec)
    Notice of hearing – The Path Forward – Defining “Canadian program” and supporting the creation and distribution of Canadian programming in the audio-visual sector in Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2024-288 – View hearing documents (2024-288)            
  • May 12, 2025 – Gatineau (Québec)
    Notice of hearing -The Path Forward – Working towards a sustainable Canadian broadcasting system – Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2025-2 – View hearing documents (2025-2)
  • June 10, 2025 – Gatineau (Québec)
    Notice of hearing – Making it easier for consumers to shop for Internet services – Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2024-318 – View hearing documents (2024-318)
  • June 18, 2025 – Gatineau (Québec)
    Notice of hearing – The Path Forward – Supporting Canadian and Indigenous audio content – Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2025-52 – View hearing documents (2025-52)
• CRTC Open Broadcasting Proceedings
• CRTC Open Telecom Proceedings

Consultations:

Spectrum Management Consultations

• Consultation on the 26 GHz and 38 GHz Bands – Respondents should submit their comments no later than May 5, 2025 to ensure consideration.

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

• (Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2024-295-1) Call for comments – Making it easier to choose a wireless phone or Internet service – Enhancing self-service mechanisms – Revised deadline for submission of replies: 12 March 2025
• (Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2024-294-1) Call for comments – Making it easier to choose a wireless phone or Internet service – Removing barriers to switching plans – Changes to procedure – Revised deadline for submission of replies: 14 March 2025  
• Share your thoughts on Canadian content for audio services – End date: April 7, 2025
• Share your thoughts on enhancing self-service – End date: March 12, 2025

---

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