AI, but make it fashion; Can travel be more accessible?: CBC’s Marketplace cheat sheet

Miss something this week? Don’t panic. CBC’s Marketplace rounds up the consumer and health news you need.

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Airlines are pledging to improve services for passengers with disabilities

This week Ottawa hosted a summit in response to media reports of passengers with disabilities facing problems on planes.

MPs said the airline industry has agreed to adopt a common medical form and to explore improved data-sharing but did not announce new penalties for mistreating travellers with disabilities.

The day before the summit, Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez said airline industry representatives were attending “in good faith” and that the federal government would consider new penalties.

“It could be serious consequences,” he said. “All of that will be decided after this summit.”

But no new penalties were announced at the summit’s closing. Rodriguez said he wants to work with the industry first and see if it can improve the situation for travellers.

“You don’t want to get at the end when you have to impose fines … if we have to do that, that’s absolutely on the table,” he said.

Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities Minister Kamal Khera said the form for travellers will “streamline the travel preparation process, making it easier for people travelling with disabilities.

She says the industry has pledged to explore ways to collect and share data with the federal government and regulatory agencies to improve outcomes for travellers. Read More

Want to see what it’s like to travel with a disability? Marketplace put Air Canada, Uber, Lyft, and beyond to the test. Spoiler: It doesn’t go well. You can watch the full episode, Access Denied, anytime on CBC Gem and YouTube. 

Consumers are complaining about an ‘aggressive’ company selling water systems door-to-door

For Natalie Lent, every day in her home feels like a boil-water advisory since she only uses bottled water, even for cooking. 

But there has been no official warning. In fact, the Nova Scotia woman has three new filtration systems for her well water, valued at nearly $12,000, collecting dust.

“It’s really just an ornament at this point for me,” Lent said, pointing to her water softener system.

She bought them last July from Atlantic Environmental Systems, a water filtration company based in Dartmouth, N.S., that is now under scrutiny. At the time, Lent had just moved into her rural home along the Minas Basin and called the company to inquire about their products. 

“There was a sulphur smell, the water was quite hard. So that was one of the priorities on the list of things that I had to do was to put in a water system because water is a necessity,” she said.

After a salesperson came to her home to pitch products, she agreed to the sale. The 53-year-old changed her mind a few days later when the installers arrived and did not answer her questions, such as what to do if she were to lose power.

“When I asked them to stop, all of a sudden there’s more people in my basement helping them speed up the process to put this in,” Lent said.

“Since then it’s been a nightmare.”

She is not alone with her concerns about Atlantic Environmental Systems. CBC News has learned the provincial government is examining whether the company has violated the Direct Sellers Regulation Act. It has given the company an opportunity to respond before deciding in the coming weeks if its seller’s permit should be cancelled or suspended.

It comes after receiving a series of complaints from homeowners across Nova Scotia, and follows a P.E.I. decision last August that revoked the company’s licence. Atlantic Environmental appealed that decision and lost in April.

The owner of Atlantic Environmental Systems, Danny Goldman, disputes any wrongdoing by the company he founded five years ago. He told CBC News that his company is ethical and “does not target certain age demographics.”

“Ninety-nine per cent of our customers are happy. You can’t make everyone happy. It’s just part of being in business,” said Goldman. Read More

Fake photos, but make it fashion: Why the Met Gala pics are just the beginning of AI deception

Actor Jared Leto carrying around his own head as an accessory? Real. Rapper Lil Nas X, painted head to toe in silver, his body encrusted with pearls and crystals, wearing only a metallic Dior thong? It happened. Actor and singer Billy Porter, wearing a catsuit, carried into the event by six shirtless men in gold pants? Yes. 

If there’s any event where it might be difficult to discern reality from fantasy, it’s the Met Gala.

But this year, people weren’t tripped up by the fashion choices (which were relatively tame, naked dresses aside). Instead, they were confused about which celebrities were actually there, thanks to AI-generated images during one of fashion’s biggest nights.

And while the AI photos swirling online of celebrities like Katy Perry and Rihanna might seem harmless, experts note that each instance of people being misled by generative AI underlines growing concerns around the misuse of this technology.

It’s particularly concerning regarding disinformation and the potential to carry out scams, identity theft or propaganda, and even election manipulation, they said.

Perry re-posted two of the AI-generated images to her Instagram Monday night, writing that she “couldn’t make it to the Met, had to work.” She also included a video of herself in the studio, and a screenshot of a text from her mom complimenting her outfit.

In the text, Perry responded, “lol mom the AI got to you too, BEWARE!” Read More

Have you been duped by AI? Maybe what you bought wasn’t what you got, or a chatbot gave you wrong information. We want to hear about it. Email us at marketplace@cbc.ca

The Competition Bureau is investigating Lululemon over greenwashing allegations

The Competition Bureau has opened an investigation into Lululemon’s environmental claims in its marketing campaigns, a spokesperson for the agency told CBC News on Monday.

Marianne Blondin confirmed in an email that the bureau “has commenced an investigation under the Competition Act into the alleged deceptive marketing practices.”

“There is no conclusion of wrongdoing at this time,” she wrote. “As the Bureau is obligated by law to conduct its work confidentially, I cannot provide further details on this case at this time.”

Stand.earth, the non-profit that filed the complaint against the B.C.-based athleisure giant accusing it of greenwashing, had announced the investigation earlier on Monday.

The complaint, which the non-profit said was filed in February, says Lululemon’s Be Planet sustainability campaign from 2020 — in which the company said it would work to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions — is contradicted by a 2022 impact report that outlined Lululemon’s progress in reaching its climate goals.

The impact report shows the company’s Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions — indirect emissions that occur as a result of a company’s activities, including those produced by customers using its products — increased from about 471,100 tonnes in 2020 to 847,400 tonnes in 2022. Lululemon wrote in its report that this area “needs acceleration.”

The company also wrote in 2020 that it “leaned into investments and partnerships to develop sustainable materials that demonstrate our leadership in product innovation and environmental harm reduction.” 
A spokesperson for Lululemon said the company is aware of the “review” by the Competition Bureau and that it is “committed to co-operating on any next steps.”

“We are confident that its review will confirm that the representations we make to the public are accurate and well-supported,” the spokesperson said in the statement to CBC News on Monday. Read More

Some of fashion’s biggest brands say they’ve gone green, but Marketplace found they’re not going far enough. You can watch the full episode, Exposing the Secrets of Sustainable Fashion anytime on CBC Gem and YouTube.

What else is going on?

Invested with FTX? The company says you’ll likely get your money back
It’s been nearly two years since the cryptocurrency exchange imploded, and it owes creditors $11.2 billion.

TikTok is suing the U.S. over ‘obviously unconstitutional’ law that would ban it
If it loses, the company will be forced to shut down next year.

The federal government is trying to coax international grocers to set up shop in Canada
The plan is to drive prices down with competition, but industry analysts are skeptical. 

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