Elon Musk, owner of Twitter ("X"), has taken to the platform to call out Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for attempting to censor speech. .On Friday, the Liberal government announced a Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) “regulatory plan,” for which podcasters who earn upwards of $10 million annually will be required to register, “provide information about their activities in Canada” and their content, and adhere to “conditions” still being debated by officials. .The plan garnered international attention over the weekend, including that of Musk, who called Trudeau’s move “shameful.”.“Trudeau is trying to crush free speech suppression in Canada,” Musk tweeted on Sunday. “Shameful.".Musk’s tweet was a repost of one from American journalist Glenn Greenwald, who posted a link to the Government of Canada’s website with the news release of the new CRTC plan. .Greenwald said Canada is already under severe censorship and it’s about to get worse. .“The Canadian government, armed with one of the world's most repressive online censorship schemes, announces that all 'online streaming services that offer podcasts' must formally register with the government to permit regulatory controls,” Greenwald posted Sunday. .https://twitter.com/ggreenwald/status/1708481721170104824.The CRTC calls the move a “major step forward to modernize Canada’s broadcasting framework” and the plan “ensure[s] online streaming services make meaningful contributions to Canadian and Indigenous content.”.The website states the commission has fielded “over 200 interventions” yet is moving forward in issuing its “first two decisions” with more conditions to come. .“First, the CRTC is setting out which online streaming services need to provide information about their activities in Canada,” the document reads. “Online streaming services that operate in Canada, offer broadcasting content and earn $10 million or more in annual revenues will need to complete a registration form by November 28, 2023.”.“Second, the CRTC is setting conditions for online streaming services to operate in Canada,” the document continues. “These conditions take effect today and require certain online streaming services to provide the CRTC with information related to their content and subscribership.”.“A third consultation is ongoing. It considers contributions traditional broadcasters and online streaming services will need to make to support Canadian and Indigenous content.”.Vicky Eatrides, Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of the CRTC said the plan is to develop a broadcasting framework that can adapt in the future.”.“We are developing a modern broadcasting framework that can adapt to changing circumstances," reads a quote from Eatrides on the website. "To do that, we need broad engagement and robust public records."
