The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has announced sweeping changes to media regulations in Canada. Online streaming platforms with over $10 million in annual revenue must register with the CRTC, potentially subjecting them to traditional broadcasting restrictions. Notably, podcasting platforms are included, while individual podcast creators are exempt. The CRTC also seeks to compel online platforms to promote Canadian and Indigenous content. This move has raised concerns about freedom of speech, with critics like Glenn Greenwald and Elon Musk accusing the government, led by Justin Trudeau, of censorship. Trudeau’s government has faced criticism for its increasingly stringent speech regulations, including arrests for “misgendering” and supporting individuals associated with hate speech.
