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A landmark AI copyright ruling from India: training ChatGPT on news articles is prima facie fair dealing. Foundation for the decision? Canada's CCH Supreme Court case and its emphasis on user rights. My post on the ruling and what it means for Canadian AI policy. www.michaelgeist.ca/2026/07/from...

The government's Online Streaming Act court filing confirms what it wouldn't say publicly: not just the CRTC's 15% decision but the 5% base contribution is being eliminated, with taxpayers on the hook for $600M to cover the costs. A full reset is coming.

Kiva survived the Holocaust and rebuilt his life in Toronto on the promise that a Jewish name on a storefront was just a name. He sold the bakery years ago. The attackers knew none of that. When antisemitism is normalized, the name on the window is enough.

The Federal Court of Appeal has forced the government to reveal its plans for the Online Streaming Act and the CRTC’s approach. It is hitting the reset button by dropping all current contribution requirements and it’s going to take years to figure things out.

The Wire Report reports that government lawyers have confirmed to Federal Court of Appeal that a full contribution reset is planned for Online Streaming Act. It isn’t just the CRTC ruling that bumped rate from 5% to 15%. It’s the 5% base contribution gone as well www.thewirereport.ca/2026/07/28/b...

My childhood synagogue vandalized. A woman stabbed at my local Loblaws known for kosher food. Now Kiva's. Not a string of bad luck but the personal reality for many Jewish Canadians. My post on the attacks and the normalization of antisemitic violence in Canada.

Kiva's generation rebuilt their lives on the promise that Canada was different. Canadian Jews increasingly fear it no longer is. The violence only stops when antisemitism stops being a hatred too many have decided they can live with, ignore, or explain away.

I joined the Lawbytes @lawbytes.bsky.social pod today re Canada signing on to the UN Cybercrime Convention, a treaty fuelling rising digital authoritarianism around the world. I also explain why high risk info-sharing treaties like this should not be chips in Canada's trade policy.

Same post on antisemitic attacks at Kiva's on X and Bluesky. X: 30K+ views, 200+ RTs, support mixed with false flag claims and holocaust denial. Bluesky: 3 likes, no replies. One platform supplies the gaslighting, the other the silence. My original post warned about both.

Russia, China and Iran have signed the UN Cybercrime Convention. Until 11 days ago, Canada joined the US, Japan, and NZ in staying out. Without notice, it quietly signed despite human rights concerns. @kate-ro.bsky.social joins my Law Bytes podcast to discuss. www.michaelgeist.ca/2026/07/epis...

Politico reports Meta has provided the government with a plan to bring news links back to Facebook and Instagram. The plan basically sounds like the government would revert to pre-Online News Act by killing the law and platforms agreeing to some sector support. www.politico.com/newsletters/...

The Canadian government’s surprise decision to sign the UN Cybercrime Convention has sparked many questions about the convention, its risks, and why Canada reversed its previous opposition. @kate-ro.bsky.social joins my Law Bytes podcast this week to discuss. www.michaelgeist.ca/2026/07/epis...

Kiva was my grandmother’s first cousin. Sold years ago but bakeries keep his name. Both were holocaust survivors. Never imagined the relentless antisemitic violence would come to Canada with too many silent on the sidelines or quick to gaslight or excuse. www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/arti...

Michael Geist Weekly Digest #18: Canada signs the UN Cybercrime Convention, a US Senator escalates the Bill C-22 backlash, and Canada’s Information Commissioner on the problems with the access-to-information system www.linkedin.com/pulse/weekly...

In 2017, Russia pushed for a cybercrime treaty that raised immediate human rights concerns. Canada joined many others in opposition. Nearly a decade later, it is now the UN Cybercrime Treaty and despite ongoing concerns, Canada quietly signed it last week. www.michaelgeist.ca/2026/07/a-su...

Canada has quietly signed the UN Cybercrime Convention, a treaty it once opposed given fears of expanded state surveillance. The US, Japan, New Zealand, and the Netherlands still haven't signed. Russia, China, and Iran signed on day one. What is happening?

Nine months ago, Canada joined key allies by declining to sign the UN Cybercrime Convention, given longstanding surveillance and human rights concerns as well as the absence of key safeguards. Last week, it quietly signed the treaty. What changed?

Senator Wyden warns that Bill C-22 represents a “counterintelligence threat” and urges the administration to take action. Given the latest Trump tariff threat, lawful access could add yet another complication in the increasingly fraught trade relationship. www.michaelgeist.ca/2026/07/rush...

The government presumably hoped that pushing Bill C-22 through a Commons committee past midnight without debate would put an end to the lawful access controversy. That plan has backfired, leading to a political and trade backlash that could have been avoided. www.michaelgeist.ca/2026/07/rush...

Access delayed is access denied. And there have been a lot of delays for anyone filing access-to-information requests in Canada. Information Commissioner Caroline Maynard joins my Law Bytes podcast to critique the government’s plan to fix a broken system.