China News Service, Toronto, March 1 (Reporter Yu Ruidong) The Canadian government announced a policy statement on March 1, indicating that from now on, it will conduct stricter review of foreign investment in the interactive digital media field in accordance with the Canadian Investment Act.
Canadian Federal Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Champagne Champagne and Minister of Cultural Heritage Saint-Ange said in a joint statement that although Canada continues to welcome foreign direct investment that supports the development of the interactive digital media industry, Canada believes that those funded by hostile countries may be affected by foreign direct investment. State influencers may seek to exploit foreign investment in the industry for disinformation and information manipulation; at the same time, the Canadian government is aware of the importance of ensuring the country’s unique intellectual property rights.
The Canadian government emphasizes that all foreign investments are subject to national security review.
Investments in interactive digital media by entities owned or influenced by foreign countries, particularly those “engaged in activities that may pose a risk to Canada’s national security,” are subject to greater scrutiny.
A major focus of the review is net business performance.
The Canadian government emphasizes that companies that generate original intellectual property, in particular, need to make longer and more stringent commitments in terms of creative independence, corporate governance and transparency.
Some of the factors that Canadian officials consider when assessing national security issues include: the audience for the product; the nature and extent of the investor's relationship with foreign governments; the composition of the company's board of directors; and whether the company may be used by foreign countries to communicate in a manner that is inconsistent with Canadian values. disinformation, etc.; the degree to which investors may exert control or influence over Canadian businesses and their products, etc.
The official definition of interactive digital media refers to digital content that allows users to actively participate or promotes the collaborative participation of multiple users for entertainment, information or educational purposes, usually through the Internet, mobile networks, game consoles or media storage devices. and environment.
Practical examples include but are not limited to computer games, online games, technology platforms that can be used for entertainment, education, training and e-commerce, certain immersive technologies or virtual reality augmented technologies, etc.
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