I have never trusted anything the CRTC says or does. My VPN gets a much more vigorous workout now than in the past.

RA nice try to amp up the rhetoric and misinformation.  Yes please post your comments now, before the CRTC and Bill C-11 take it down.  Who knows, this may be the last honest post we will see from you before the CRTC gets their hands on it.  As you mentioned, this government has an almost rabid desire to control the worldwide web for Canadians.....   What a pant load of garbage. I thought I was reading a rant from Sun Media. 
 
C-11 is attracting "attention and alarm" from free speech advocates around the world??  Really?  I guess these free speech advocates must be spinning since there's over 30 other supposedly free and democratic countries looking to do the same thing. Some of our best friends like the UK, Italy, France, Spain, Germany, in fact all 27 countries in the EU.  The US has also floated the idea of regulations for the internet. 

We heard all of the same weak arguments and fears 51 years ago, how our freedoms were being taken away by the government and CRTC.  Yep, that's what happened, your freedom was stolen back in January 1971. This lame and embarrassing point of view becomes even more ridiculous considering what is happening in the world today.  Try talking to someone who came from a country where freedom was really stolen. Watch the news tonight, and you will see what really happens when freedom is taken away.   
 

paterson1 wrote:

Try talking to someone who came from a country where freedom was really stolen. Watch the news tonight, and you will see what really happens when freedom is taken away.

I don't have the time I usually do to craft a full answer to your critique, so I'll just say this:

-It would be wise for those who support this kind of censorship-lite legislation and this government to be aware that one day another party will be in charge. These same rules may well be used against the one you now favour. Bad law is bad law bad no matter who is in charge. And I say that as someone who's not a big supporter of any of the big three political parties. 

-As for those countries where their freedoms have been taken away? This kind of government overreach is exactly how it starts. As the old saying goes, "Be careful what you wish for."

The potential appointment of a "Digital Safety Commissioner." which appears to be part of the plan, is very disturbing. Even the title makes me nervous.

This person will not be elected and his/her powers will be widespread. The fact we don't know exactly what this will entail should be reason enough for concern, given the performance of governments of all stripes over the years. Remember when censors decided what Ontarians could and could not see at the movies? Is that really what you want to return to the entire country? 

I do not want any "Commissioner" deciding what's OK for me or other Canadians to see, publish or read on the Internet. 

That alone should scare the hell out of you, regardless of the web's past indiscretions. Perhaps when it happens it will.

My hope is that it never gets that far. But God help us if it does.  

Well the regs are not there to decide what you can and can't watch.  You always try to paint the CRTC as this big censor board which they are not and never have been.  The regs are an attempt to keep the evil stuff off of the net. Youtube already tries to do this.  Do you get as wound up about them as well?

I don't have much memory of the Ontario Review Board which was only dissolved a couple of years ago.  Deciding what movies Ontarians could see or not see at the theatre was not what they did.  You really hurt your argument and credibility when you make misleading statements like that, The purpose of the board was to classify movies.  Decades ago they may have requested some scenes be cut but deciding what people can see at the theatre is not accurate and an exaggeration. 

But if I am wrong, maybe you can provide a list of movies that were banned in Ontario.  I am sure people were protesting in the streets a few decades ago when all of this suppression of freedom was happening.  Odd how I don't seem to recall any of these events though. 

 As much as you hate cancon, Canadian media, and the CRTC please explain how the commission has abused their power over the past 50 plus years.  And please let's not bring up (again) things like how Canada had colour TV or stereo broadcasts later than the US or why FM radio didn't play the hits the same time as Rock 102.  All of these points have been shot down many times already.   

Went through the link RA and some interesting points from dedicated and likely well meaning people.  However why are they fixated on cancon so much?  Bill C-11 is about much more than just that.  I do agree that C-11 still needs some work and it will continue to change or be modified.  Yes the broadcasting act needs to be updated  I am sure this is happening and will happen. 

But you can't understand why the proposed changes are not scaring the hell out of me?  Why would it? Again please look at history and our solid Canadian democracy.  When has any government (provincial or federal) ever intentionally tried to undermine or harm the well being of people?  You and many others may not like some rules or regulations but obviously there are many more that either don't have an issue with them or agreed with what was brought into law. 

You mention that former directors and a previous chairman of the CRTC disagrees strongly with the bill and have been vocal in their opposition.  Good for them, this is what a good democratic society does.  Also shows that the CRTC was not filled with only left leaning liberals.  There are still appointees from the Harper days that continue to work for both the CRTC and CBC. 

Again, nobody has answered the question why the internet and social media which is more or less controlled by five or six mega corporations has earned the right to continue to be unregulated.  No other business has this arrangement. These multi billion dollar organizations should be allowed this unheard of free rein and privilege because...???
 
Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, Tik Tok, Instagram have only brought in weak restrictions when they were threatened or shamed into action.  Excuses like they aren't broadcasting or they have no borders doesn't cut it.  They have huge power and influence, make billions in profits, and have been responsible for countless computer hacks, spam, malware, cyberbullying, cyberhacks, loss of revenue for individuals and companies, even cities and towns, spreading of disinformation and outright lies etc etc. All of this because of lack of regulation and responsibility.

Some interesting thoughts on the lack of regulation from Sacha Baron... https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/video/sacha-baron-cohen-calls-social-media-greatest-propaganda-67291908 . 

Last edited by paterson1 (April 5, 2022 6:43 pm)

I'm really curious to see how this "discoverability" would work. In the link RA posted above to OpenMedia (a generally left-leaning org) they imply pretty strongly that this can only be accomplished though the platforms' algorithms. 

YouTube and Spotify both have very long tails and serve every niche imaginable. I'm curious how this would affect those. If you have a penchant for Bollywood music, or Japanese Urban Exploration, how does non existent Cancon get inserted? 

If this comes to pass, I see a massive vulnerability that could be exploited - find good size niches with next to no Canadian content creators and create some garbage content that meets qualification standards, and watch the ad dollars or royalties pour in.