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What about data and privacy?
In November, Navdeep Bains, then Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, introduced Bill C-11, the Digital Charter Implementation Act, which will overhaul the law governing the privacy of Canadians. The bill promises hefty financial penalties — more meaningful to giant tech platforms such as Google, Facebook, and Amazon — for breaches, and gives more power to consumers when it comes to the transfer of personal information from one organization to another and the disposal of personal data. If passed, the law will restrict the collection of personal information and require companies to document the purposes for which personal information is collected, used, or disclosed (with continuous updates if new purposes arise).
What about broadcasting?
Guilbeault introduced Bill C-10, the first major legislative amendments to the Broadcasting Act since 1991. The bill would put “online undertakings” that transmit programs over the Internet within the purview of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. “Including online activity within Canada’s broadcast regulatory framework signals a major policy shift,” according to lawyer at DLA Piper. However, the law firm noted, it remains to be determined what conditions and requirements the CRTC will impose on online providers once the bill becomes law.
