Topic: Crtc

Canada's regulatory body, the CRTC, is implementing new registration requirements for online streaming services and podcast providers generating over $10 million in annual revenue. Critics argue this move toward government registration of podcasters threatens free speech, while proponents suggest it aligns with existing national content regulations for traditional media.

The Canadian Parliament passed Bill C-11, the Online Streaming Act, which grants the CRTC regulatory authority over audiovisual content on the internet, including podcasts and social media. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has condemned the bill as "creeping totalitarianism" and a threat to freedom of expression, vowing to dismantle the expanded bureaucracy if elected Prime Minister.

Rogers Communications CEO Tony Staffieri apologized for a massive 24-hour nationwide internet and cellular outage in Canada caused by a maintenance upgrade. The failure disrupted emergency services, travel, and debit transactions, leading to calls for a public inquiry by the CRTC into the lack of telecommunications competition in the country.

Reports from Wuhan show drones with loudspeakers yelling at citizens to wear masks. In Canada, a government advisory panel recommends that the CRTC regulate internet media to counter "harmful content" and misinformation. Ezra Levant of The Rebel criticizes the report for using the word "regulate" 54 times and threatening free speech.