Michael Geist: The CRTC Slow Train

Professor Michael Geist is someone I think about often. It could be from the writings on his blog or his words from his podcast, Law Bytes. With the CRTC spending its valuable time these days discussing with Canadian Radio, what qualifies and should qualify as Canadian Content, I thought now would be a good time to have him on the show to discuss some of the inner workings of their policy making.

We explored the evolving landscape of Canadian media regulation and the challenges facing policymakers in the digital age. He highlighted how, for over two decades, both Conservative and more often Liberal governments have struggled to keep pace with the rapid changes brought by the internet, often lagging behind technology and failing to anticipate the real-world impact of new laws.

We discussed the influence of lobby groups on legislation like Bill C-11 and C-18, which have shaped the way news and streaming content are regulated in Canada. Professor Geist pointed out that these laws often overlook the needs of end users and the realities of modern content distribution, leading to unintended consequences—such as the inability to share news on social platforms.

The conversation also touched on the CRTC’s lack of direct radio experience and its tendency to prioritize traditional stakeholders over public interest. As AI becomes more prevalent in media, Geist suggested greater transparency would be an excellent start.

Looking ahead, Geist emphasized the importance of keeping public interest at the heart of policy decisions, especially as new privacy and AI regulations are debated in Canada.

You can see the full video of Michael Geist's appearance at the CRTC Hearing in 2023 here. 

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