GME3: (Un)Fair Grounds for Fine?, iSpy With My Little Eye & Pressing Issue: No Press

In this week’s GME3, Toronto’s summer fair casino finds itself on the hook for nearly $200,000 in anti–money laundering fines, the UK appears to have backed down from its push to force Apple into building an encryption back door, and Canadian politicians are pressing Meta to restore news access on its platforms after the ban’s impact was felt during recent wildfires. Read the full stories below!

Gambling

(Un)Fair Grounds for Fine?

The Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) Casino, a temporary not-for-profit gambling facility that operates each summer alongside Toronto’s fairgrounds, has been fined nearly $200,000 for violations of Canada’s anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing laws. The fines stem from a March compliance examination by the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (Fintrac), which oversees enforcement of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act.

According to Fintrac, the casino failed to meet two core obligations: maintaining adequate risk assessment procedures and conducting a mandatory bi-annual review of the effectiveness of its compliance program. Each violation carried a maximum administrative penalty of $100,000. In July – just days before the casino opened for the 2025 fair season – officials received formal notices confirming the breaches, though the total fines were reduced slightly by $1,000.

Casino management has disputed the findings and has filed an appeal in Federal Court, arguing that their compliance framework had been properly implemented. The CNE Casino has operated since 1991 as part of the annual exhibition, which features amusement rides, concerts, food vendors, and agricultural showcases. Despite its seasonal and charitable nature, the casino is subject to the same federal oversight as permanent gambling facilities.

The appeal highlights the growing regulatory pressure on gambling operators in Canada to ensure robust anti-money laundering safeguards, regardless of size or operational model. As the case proceeds, it underscores the importance of compliance obligations even for temporary or charitable gaming ventures.

Media

iSpy With My Little Eye

The UK has reportedly withdrawn its demand that Apple create a “back door” to access encrypted data from users worldwide, a move that had sparked major concerns over privacy and civil liberties. According to U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, the UK has agreed to drop its order, which critics warned would have compromised the data of American citizens and undermined global encryption standards.

The original demand, issued under the UK’s Investigatory Powers Act in December, required Apple to provide access to customer data. However, Apple argued it could not comply without breaking its own encryption, especially for customers using its strongest security option, Advanced Data Protection (ADP). In response, the company withdrew ADP from the UK market and launched legal proceedings, with a tribunal scheduled for early 2026. It is unclear if that case will continue following the apparent policy reversal.

Neither the UK government nor Apple has formally confirmed the withdrawal. Officials cited longstanding intelligence-sharing arrangements with the U.S. but declined to comment on operational matters. Privacy advocates, including Liberty and the Open Rights Group, cautiously welcomed the news, describing it as a “hugely welcome” step but warning that the powers enabling such demands still exist in UK law and could be used by future governments. They argue that creating back doors into encrypted services would expose vulnerable groups, politicians, and activists to greater risks of targeting and surveillance.

Civil liberties campaigners and U.S. lawmakers alike stressed that strong encryption is vital for personal and national security. While the reported retreat marks a win for privacy advocates, they caution that the broader battle over encryption and government surveillance powers remains far from over.

Entertainment

Pressing Issue: No Press

Progressive Conservative (PC) leaders are joining growing calls for accredited Canadian news organizations to be restored to social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Meta has blocked Canadian news content on its platforms since 2023, when it clashed with Ottawa over Bill C-18, the Online News Act. Critics argue the ban has created fertile ground for misinformation, leaving the public struggling to distinguish fact from fiction.

The issue resurfaced during recent wildfires, when conflicting reports spread online. Public Safety Minister John Haggie expressed his frustration, telling reporters that “there’s a lot of rubbish out there – and there seems to be a little factory producing it.” He said he intends to raise the matter with federal emergency preparedness minister Eleanor Olszewski, stressing the dangers of disinformation during crises.

Provincial PC Leader Tony Wakeham has also weighed in, sending a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney warning that blocking legitimate news outlets hampers the flow of accurate, real-time updates during emergencies. He emphasized that the public needs quick, trustworthy information, and pointed out that news organizations have traditionally been essential channels for relaying government advisories.

Wakeham’s stance comes just months after he himself criticized the media in a TikTok video, where he claimed “you can’t trust the media.” Those remarks have since been retracted, but the reversal highlights the complicated relationship between politicians, the press, and social media.

For now, the PC call adds momentum to mounting pressure on Meta, as governments and civil society push to ensure reliable news access on the platforms most Canadians rely on for information.