Articles by: Michael Geist

CRTC Proposes to Change Standard for Broadcasting False or Misleading News

The CRTC last week quietly proposed a significant change to the rules on false or misleading news broadcasts on radio or television. The law currently provides that a broadcast licensee “shall not broadcast any false or misleading news.” The CRTC is proposing to amend the law with respect to television and radio by lowering the standard to “any news that the licensee knows is false or misleading and that endangers or is likely to endanger the lives, health or safety of the public.” In other words, it would perfectly permissible for a broadcaster to air false or misleading news, provided that it not endanger the lives, health or safety of the public.

If enacted, the changes would move the Canadian broadcast framework closer to that found in the U.S. The Federal Communications Commission has a limited rule against broadcast hoaxes that provides:

January 12, 2011 — 47 comments — News

Federal Support for R&D Consultation Paper Released

The panel reviewing federal support for research and development has posted its consultation paper. Comments are due by February 18, 2011.

January 12, 2011 — Comments are Disabled — News

Government to Appeal Ruling on Website Accessibility

The federal government is appealing a federal court ruling that ordered it to make its key websites accessible to visually impaired users.

January 12, 2011 — Comments are Disabled — News

Supreme Court Will Lead Tech Law in 2011

Predictions about the upcoming year in technology law and policy in Canada are particularly challenging given the prospect of a possible election. My weekly technology law column (Toronto Star version, homepage version) notes that while there is no shortage of potential new laws – bills on privacy, copyright, and lawful access are all before the House of Commons – an election call before the fall would likely mean that those bills would die on the order paper.

With political uncertainty clouding even the best crystal ball, the Supreme Court of Canada is set to emerge this year as the place where much of the action will take place. Canada’s highest court has lined up a tech-heavy docket that will have a major impact Canadian law.

January 11, 2011 — 5 comments — Columns

Supreme Court Will Lead Tech Law in 2011

Appeared in the Toronto Star on January 9, 2011 as Supreme Court Will Lead Tech Law in 2011 Predictions about the upcoming year in technology law and policy in Canada are particularly challenging given the prospect of a possible election. While there is no shortage of potential new laws – […]

January 11, 2011 — Comments are Disabled — Columns Archive