Canada Tightens Measures on Streaming and Podcasts


 

Key Points:

1. 📜 New Regulations: The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has announced new conditions for online streaming services broadcasting in Canada. Services with an annual revenue of $10 million or more are required to provide information about their activities and register by November 28.

2. 🎯 Purpose of the Regulation: The CRTC aims for streaming services to make a "meaningful contribution" to Canadian and Indigenous content. Vicky Eatrides, the Chairperson and CEO of CRTC, emphasized the need for a modern broadcasting framework that can adapt to changing circumstances.

3. 🗣️ Criticism: The decision has been heavily criticized both within and outside Canada. Elon Musk, the CEO of X (formerly Twitter), accused the Trudeau government of trying to suppress free speech in Canada. Journalist Glenn Greenwald criticized the "censorship" and noted that the Canadian government now has one of the world's most repressive online censorship regulations.

4. 📚 Background: These new rules stem from the Online Streaming Act, formerly known as Bill C-11, which came into effect in April of this year. This law has given new powers to Canada's broadcasting regulator, including the ability to impose financial penalties on individuals and businesses that violate certain provisions of the Broadcasting Act or its regulations.

5. 💻 Tech Giants' Reactions: In August, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, among others, pulled news content from their platforms in Canada in response to new legislation requiring internet giants to pay publishers for news articles shared on their social media sites. Google indicated last month that they would do the same if the "serious structural issues" with the legislation are not addressed.

Conclusion 🤔: Canada has introduced new regulations for streaming services, leading to both national and international criticism, especially regarding concerns over censorship and restrictions on free speech. Major tech companies have also responded to related legislation, indicating growing tensions between the Canadian government and the tech industry.


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