Canada’s telecom regulator may force internet service providers to adopt network-level botnet blocking to limit criminally-run automated systems’ ability to spread malware. ISPs can use several techniques to fight botnets, including domain-based blocking, internet protocol (IP)-based blocking and protocol-based blocking. However, these and other strategies aren’t required by regulation or controlled for possible bias. But on Wednesday, the Canadian Radio-Telecommunications and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) called for comments on a proposal to require ISPs to implement strategies to fight botnets at the network level by blocking suspicious email, texts and communications by malware to command and control servers.