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freezenet

@freezenet@noc.social

Official account for Canadian tech news website, Freezenet.ca

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freezenet , to Random stuff
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CRTC Updates Bill C-11 Timeline: Target Pushed to Late 2025

The CRTC has pushed back the target implementation date back by a whole year after months of delay. It's now eyeing late 2025.

https://www.freezenet.ca/crtc-updates-bill-c-11-timeline-target-pushed-to-late-2025/

freezenet , to Random stuff
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CRTC Consultations on C-11 Continues to Be Missing in Action

Another month has gone by and there still is no signs that the Bill C-11 consultations are moving forward at the CRTC.

https://www.freezenet.ca/crtc-consultations-on-c-11-continues-to-be-missing-in-action/

freezenet , to Random stuff
@freezenet@noc.social avatar

Hey @mmasnick . Became aware of another study alleging that social media is destroying the minds of teenagers. Going to try and dive deeper into the numbers given that the selling points aren't adding up, but thought I'd pass the study along to you for you to pick through as well: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/new-unesco-report-warns-social-media-affects-girls-well-being-learning-and-career-choices

Given the enormous amount of research that says otherwise, I'm quite skeptical of the findings in this study already.

freezenet , to Random stuff
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Google Pushes Back Against the Online News Act

We're continuing to read the submissions sent to the CRTC in the Online News Act consultation. Today, we're checking out Google's response.

https://www.freezenet.ca/google-pushes-back-against-the-online-news-act/

freezenet , to Random stuff
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US Publishers Are Pushing to Repeat Canada’s Link Tax Mistake

American publishers have apparently decided they want a piece of that link tax failure Canadian publishers have experienced.

https://www.freezenet.ca/us-publishers-are-pushing-to-repeat-canadas-link-tax-mistake/

freezenet , to Random stuff
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Where’s the Next Round of Bill C-11 CRTC Consultations?

The CRTC was set to have the next round of consultations on the Online Streaming Act in Winter of 2023/2024. They still haven't happened.

https://www.freezenet.ca/wheres-the-next-round-of-bill-c-11-crtc-consultations/

freezenet , to Random stuff
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Lawyer Pushes Back Against Accusations that Critics of Bill C-63 are “Rage Farming”

A lawyer has spoken out against the personal attacks pushed by the government. She explains that there are valid criticisms towards Bill C-63.

https://www.freezenet.ca/lawyer-pushes-back-against-accusations-that-critics-of-bill-c-63-are-rage-farming/

freezenet , to Random stuff
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Canadians Push Back Against Online News Act At CRTC Hearing

The consultations being held at the CRTC are ongoing. It seems that Canadians are pushing back against the Online News Act.

https://www.freezenet.ca/canadians-push-back-against-online-news-act-at-crtc-hearing/

freezenet , to Random stuff
@freezenet@noc.social avatar

Bell Raises Dividend Payouts, Blames Job Cuts on Not Getting Free Government Money Fast Enough

It seems as though Bell Media has run out of F___s to give when it comes to optics as they dish more money out to shareholders.

https://www.freezenet.ca/bell-raises-dividend-payouts-blames-job-cuts-on-not-getting-free-government-money-fast-enough/

freezenet , to Law
@freezenet@noc.social avatar

You know you screwed up as a lawyer when you get disbarred: https://www.techdirt.com/2024/03/20/copyright-troll-richard-liebowitz-finally-disbarred/

... achievement unlocked?

@mmasnick

freezenet , to Random stuff
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The Online Harms Bill (Bill C-63) – Conclusions and Thoughts

We have finished analyzing the Online Harms Bill (Bill C-63). Here are some takeaways that I was able to get out of it.

https://www.freezenet.ca/the-online-harms-bill-bill-c-63-conclusions-and-thoughts/

freezenet , to Random stuff
@freezenet@noc.social avatar

Things We Are Looking for In the Forthcoming Online Harms Bill

Rumours suggest that the Online Harms Bill could be tabled today as Bill C-63. We thought we’d discuss some of the things we are looking for.

https://www.freezenet.ca/things-we-are-looking-for-in-the-forthcoming-online-harms-bill/

freezenet , to Random stuff
@freezenet@noc.social avatar

Nightmare Fuel Online Harms Bill Appears on the Notice Paper

It’s the bill that has been keeping experts up all night. The much feared Online Harms bill has now appeared on the notice paper.

https://www.freezenet.ca/nightmare-fuel-online-harms-bill-appears-on-the-notice-paper/

freezenet , to Random stuff
@freezenet@noc.social avatar

An Analysis of Bill C-63 (Online Harms Bill) – Part 1 – Definitions and Operator Requirements

It is a major source of anxiety, but the text of the Online Harms Bill has been tabled as Bill C-63. We analyze the text of the bill.

A few days ago, we posted an article noting t

https://www.freezenet.ca/an-analysis-of-bill-c-63-online-harms-bill-part-1-definitions-and-operator-requirements/

freezenet , to Random stuff
@freezenet@noc.social avatar

This is pretty dense reading material, but still working on my analysis of the Online Harms Bill.I did find another provision that was concerning to me:

"59 [...] (2) In notifying a user of any measures taken with respect to content in accordance with paragraphs (1)‍(b) and (c), the operator must not notify a user of any report that the operator has made to a law enforcement agency in relation to the content."

This opens up the possibility of secret police investigations which I'm not a fan of.

freezenet , to Random stuff
@freezenet@noc.social avatar

There's multiple definitions of social media in the bill, but this one is... not good:

"5 (1) For the purposes of this Act, a service is not a social media service if it does not enable a user to communicate content to the public."

Almost any Wordpress site enables comments (unless explicitly deactivated by the admin). Who the heck wrote that?

freezenet , to Random stuff
@freezenet@noc.social avatar

Bill C-63 (Online Harms Bill) has been posted: https://www.parl.ca/LegisInfo/en/bill/44-1/c-63

Text is here: https://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/44-1/bill/C-63/first-reading

This... is going to take a while to analyze. The text is monstrously long.

freezenet , to Random stuff
@freezenet@noc.social avatar

Nightmare Fuel Online Harms Bill Appears on the Notice Paper

It's the bill that has been keeping experts up all night. The much feared Online Harms bill has now appeared on the notice paper.

For years, I have been discussing Canada's war on the open internet as a three pronged approach. That t

https://www.freezenet.ca/nightmare-fuel-online-harms-bill-appears-on-the-notice-paper/

freezenet , to Random stuff
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Ottawa Considers Ombudsperson to Help Push Forthcoming Online Harms Bill

Canada’s forthcoming Online Harms bill could come with a dedicated “ombudsperson” likely to help flood the zone with disinformation.

When Bill C-11 was pushed, the government and the mainstream media pushed wall to wall disinformation about how this legislation was about “making...

https://www.freezenet.ca/ottawa-considers-ombudsperson-to-help-push-forthcoming-online-harms-bill/



freezenet , to Random stuff
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CRTC Hearings: OpenMedia Calls for Bill C-11 Implementation to Not Harm the Digital Ecosystem

Our coverage of the CRTC hearings into the Online Streaming Act continues. Today, we cover what OpenMedia has to say (among others).

We are reaching the last portions of the current round

https://www.freezenet.ca/crtc-hearings-openmedia-calls-for-bill-c-11-implementation-to-not-harm-the-digital-ecosystem/

freezenet , to Privacy
@freezenet@noc.social avatar

Emily Laidlaw Offers Her Bill S-210 Analysis. Adds to Growing Consensus That It’s an Unconstitutional Mess

Another analysis of Bill S-210 has emerged. Emily Laidlaw, a law professor at the University of Calgary, says it's likely unconstitutional.

Bill

https://www.freezenet.ca/emily-laidlaw-offers-her-bill-s-210-analysis-adds-to-growing-consensus-that-its-an-unconstitutional-mess/

freezenet , to Privacy
@freezenet@noc.social avatar

David Fraser, Privacy Lawyer, Offers His Analysis of Bill S-210

David Fraser (AKA Privacy Lawyer) has offered an analysis of Bill S-210. I may have underestimated how alarming this bill is.

When I wrote my analysis of Bill S-210 last year, I came to a number of conclusions about the bill. Those co

https://www.freezenet.ca/david-fraser-privacy-lawyer-offers-his-analysis-of-bill-s-210/

freezenet , to Random stuff
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After Nearly 6 Months Since Dropping News Links in Canada, Meta’s Stock Value Soars

Bill C-18 lobbyists claimed that Meta dropping news links would spell doom for the company. Today's stock prices begs to differ.

For months before the decision, Meta warned that the Online News Act (then called Bil

https://www.freezenet.ca/after-nearly-6-months-since-dropping-news-links-in-canada-metas-stock-value-soars/

trendless , to Random stuff
@trendless@zeroes.ca avatar

Gotta love getting this when it's -40°C out.

Thanks for kiboshing all the renewable projects, UCP. Reliability really is priority number one 🤪

A EMERGENCY ALERT / ALERTE D'URGENCE This is an Alberta Emergency Alert issued by the AEMA. This alert is in effect for AB. Extreme cold resulting in high power demand has placed the Alberta grid at a high risk of rotating power outages this evening. Albertans are asked to immediately limit their electricity use to essential needs only. Turn off unnecessary lights and electrical appliances. Minimize the use of space heaters. Delay use of major power appliances. Delay charging electrical vehicles and plugging in block heaters. Cook with microwave instead of stove. For more info visit the Alberta Electric System Operator website.
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    • freezenet ,
    @freezenet@noc.social avatar

    @trendless When the news hit of the Alberta NDP leader stepping down, the conservatives over there were blaming the NDP for the mess the UCP created with regard to the possibility of rolling blackouts. It was a great reminder of why I don't use Xitter as much as I used to. I thought I lost IQ points just reading some of those bot comments.

    freezenet , to Random stuff
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    VictoriaBuzz Publishes Online News Act Disinformation. Why Can’t the Media Stop Lying About it?

    If you thought the media would have few reasons to lie about the Online News Act after it passed, you would be mistaken.

    For the last few years, the Canadian mainst

    https://www.freezenet.ca/victoriabuzz-publishes-online-news-act-disinformation-why-cant-the-media-stop-lying-about-it/

    freezenet , to Random stuff
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    No Blacklocks Reporter and Western Standard, the CRTC is Not Writing News Code’s of Ethics

    Reports from Blacklocks Reporter and Western Standard suggest the CRTC will write a code of ethics for news outlets to follow. The reporting appears to be inaccurate.

    The Online News Act i

    https://www.freezenet.ca/no-blacklocks-reporter-and-western-standard-the-crtc-is-not-writing-news-codes-of-ethics/

    freezenet , to Random stuff
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    Conservative Party One Step Closer to Making Internet Censorship a Reality in Canada

    The Conservative party is quietly pushing for an internet censorship bill in Canada - and they are succeeding.

    With the Liberal party pushing their three pronged approach to cracking down on the interne

    https://www.freezenet.ca/conservative-party-one-step-closer-to-making-internet-censorship-a-reality-in-canada/

    freezenet , to Random stuff
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    Canadian Government to Cap CBC’s Online News Act Haul to $7 Million

    The Canadian government has decided that maybe giving the heavily subsidized CBC so much money might not be a good idea after all.

    It was gearing up to be quite a case of history repeating itself. When Australia got a deal with the platforms in exchange for

    https://www.freezenet.ca/canadian-government-to-cap-cbcs-online-news-act-haul-to-7-million/

    freezenet , to Random stuff
    @freezenet@noc.social avatar

    National Post Floats One of the Worst Arguments for Payments for Links Yet

    We've seen a lot of bad takes and obvious lies from the major media outlets, but a recent National Post article may just take the cake.

    With the Canadian government caving to Google, handing them everything and calling

    https://www.freezenet.ca/national-post-floats-one-of-the-worst-arguments-for-payments-for-links-yet/

    freezenet , to Random stuff
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    Canadian Government Folds: Hands Google Everything and Calls it a “Deal”

    With just over half a month left, the Canadian government has folded and let Google walk away with virtually everything.

    A catastrophe in the Canadian news sector was seemingly all but a sure thing. With Meta already dropping news links, Google's positio

    https://www.freezenet.ca/canadian-government-folds-hands-google-everything-and-calls-it-a-deal/

    freezenet , to Random stuff
    @freezenet@noc.social avatar

    Welp, if the Canadian government proved anything today, it's that the American government doesn't hold a monopoly on making ridiculously stupid remarks about things like news links, platforms, and technology in general: https://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/44-1/CHPC/meeting-101/notice

    https://parlvu.parl.gc.ca/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2?fk=12451690

    This was after Meta dropped news links and 21 days away from Google presumably doing the same thing. There's no talking any sense to them, is there?

    @mmasnick

    freezenet OP ,
    @freezenet@noc.social avatar

    @mmasnick There's a video where there was a hearing at the Canadian House of Commons talking about how platforms like Google and Facebook are somehow evading the law by dropping news links among other things. The second link is the direct link to the video. Michael Geist was on the panel and seemed like the voice of reason for the most part, but others were there making all kinds of absurd claims.

    freezenet OP ,
    @freezenet@noc.social avatar

    @mmasnick One of the claims during the opening statements was that Facebook has full editorial control over users content. That guy said the evidence of this is the fact that Facebook dropped news links in Canada, so, therefore, they can control everything that appears on their platform. It's... insane some of the stuff that came out of that hearing.

    freezenet OP ,
    @freezenet@noc.social avatar

    @mmasnick Hmm, I was away from the computer for much of the day and had no idea that a deal was struck. Will look into it.

    freezenet OP ,
    @freezenet@noc.social avatar

    @mmasnick From the sounds of things, it looks like the Canadian government pretty caved to Google on virtually everything. Google was always open to a fund model and that's generally what they got. I guess if a deal was going to get struck at all, Google would end up getting most of what they asked for. Makes sense since they held all the cards throughout it all.

    Sure, it would've been ideal for Google to just pull news links altogether, but I get to keep my job after all.

    freezenet , to Random stuff
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    Post Rogers Shaw Merger, Jobs Are Getting Axed As Ottawa Radio Shuts Down

    The all too familiar cycle of mergers leading to layoffs continues as a CityNews Ottawa radio broadcast shuts down.

    In the business world, it's a very familiar pattern. Two large companies merge into one large mega company. Promise

    https://www.freezenet.ca/post-rogers-shaw-merger-jobs-are-getting-axed-as-ottawa-radio-shuts-down/

    freezenet , to Random stuff
    @freezenet@noc.social avatar

    In other news, the AV Club now publishes AI generated articles: https://www.avclub.com/updated-august-2023-movie-releases-1850700499

    @mmasnick

    freezenet , to Random stuff
    @freezenet@noc.social avatar

    Heh, and here's Arstechnica with an article on , claiming that Mastodon doesn't have , it doesn't scale well, it's not welcoming to new users, doesn't have good features users want, and is pretty much dead with no one using it. This with the bonus about how the was not successful. Ooops!

    https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2023/06/op-ed-why-the-great-twittermigration-didnt-quite-pan-out/

    Wonder if @mmasnick or @glynmoody would get a chuckle out of it?

    freezenet , to Random stuff
    @freezenet@noc.social avatar

    Here's @mmasnick covering the Bill C-18 debacle. https://www.techdirt.com/2023/06/30/canadas-online-news-act-the-fallout-continues-as-google-will-block-news-links-other-support-programs/

    The only people surprised by any of this are the government and the hardcore lobbyists that kept insisting that this was all just a big fancy bluff and the platforms would come crawling back to the government, begging for forgiveness.

    Also never thought I would be hopeful my site would be obscure, but I'm hoping the blocks don't go to the extreme of taking my site out of search and social in the process. (think I'm safe)

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