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Canada’s new podcasting requirements spark free speech debate


Fights over free speech are not limited to the U.S. Canada is facing a debate over newly implemented speech regulations. At issue is the nation’s effort to “ensure online streaming services make meaningful contributions to Canadian and Indigenous content.”

The new directive, announced Friday, Sept. 29 by the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), requires online streaming services operating in Canada, social media services and other online services offering podcasts to register with the government.

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The regulations stem from the newly implemented, controversial Online Streaming Act, which requires platforms like Netflix and Spotify to pay into the domestic media ecosystem.

“At the end of the day, the bill is very simple,” said Pablo Rodriguez, minister of transport and Quebec lieutenant. “It is asking the streamers that we like–I have Disney, I have Netflix, and all of that–to contribute to Canadian culture and also to make sure we can showcase what we do best in terms of films, music, and television.”

The announcement from CRTC received heavy criticism, including from X owner Elon Musk, who accused the Canadian government of “crushing free speech.”

Musk’s open criticism of the new regulations is not being covered by media across the political spectrum.

​​According to the Straight Arrow News Media Miss™ tool, this story is a Media Miss for the left. The Media Landscape indicates that while right-leaning and center-oriented outlets are covering this story, only one of the 24 sources reporting on the topic is left-leaning.

The CRTC is set to hold a three-week public proceeding in November as it “considers contributions traditional broadcasters and online.”

Straight Arrow News strives to provide unbiased, fact-based news in addition to offering a comprehensive look at how the media is covering stories that matter most. Learn more about the Media Miss™ tool and decide for yourself.

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FIGHTS OVER FREE SPEECH ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE U.S. — CANADA IS CURRENTLY FACING A DEBATE OVER NEWLY IMPLEMENTED SPEECH REGULATIONS. 

 

AT ISSUE IS THE NATION’S EFFORTS TO QUOTE: “ENSURE ONLINE STREAMING SERVICES MAKE MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTIONS TO CANADIAN AND INDIGENOUS CONTENT.”

 

THE NEW DIRECTIVE ANNOUNCED FRIDAY BY THE CANADIAN RADIO TELEVISION AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION MANDATES THAT ONLINE STREAMING SERVICES THAT OPERATE IN CANADA AND SOCIAL MEDIA SERVICES AND OTHER ONLINE SERVICES THAT OFFER PODCASTS… REGISTER WITH THE GOVERNMENT

 

THE REGULATIONS STEM FROM THE RECENTLY PASSED CONTROVERSIAL ONLINE STREAMING ACT.. TO REQUIRE PLATFORMS LIKE NETFLIX AND SPOTIFY TO PAY INTO THE DOMESTIC MEDIA ECOSYSTEM.

 

Pablo Rodriguez – Minister of Transport and Quebec Lieutenant 

“At the end of the day, the bill is very simple. It is asking the streamers, that we like, I have Disney I have Netflix and all of that, to contribute to Canadian culture and also to make sure we can showcase what we do best in terms of films, music, and television.”

 

THE FRIDAY ANNOUNCEMENT FROM CRTC RECEIVED HEAVY  CRITICISM… INCLUDING FROM SOCIAL MEDIA OWNER ELON MUSK, WHO ACCUSED THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT OF QUOTE “CRUSHING FREE SPEECH.”

 

MUSK’S OPEN CRITICISM OF THE NEW REGULATIONS IS A STORY NOT BEING COVERED BY ALL MEDIA.

THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS MEDIA MISS TOOL SHOWS THE MAJORITY OF OUTLETS COVERING THE STORY ARE EITHER CENTER ORIENTED OR RIGHT-LEANING

 

LEFT-LEANING NEWS OUTLETS ARE UNDER-REPORTING MUSKS CRITICISM. OF THE 24 SOURCES COVERING THE STORY JUST ONE OUTLET LEANS LEFT.

 

THE CRTC IS SET TO HOLD A THREE-WEEK PUBLIC PROCEEDING IN NOVEMBER AS IT QUOTE: “CONSIDERS CONTRIBUTIONS TRADITIONAL BROADCASTERS AND ONLINE STREAMING SERVICES WILL NEED TO MAKE TO SUPPORT CANADIAN AND INDIGENOUS CONTENT.”