News

  • CIPPIC calls for public registry of data breaches and limits on kids' data mining
    - 2008-01-15 -

    In response to the federal government's consultation on PIPEDA reforms, CIPPIC is calling for a centralized, publicly available, electronic registry of data breaches, in addition to mandatory notification to affected individuals.  CIPPIC's submission also calls for absolute limits on the collection and use of kids' data for targeted marketing purposes, and more effective enforcement mechanisms for PIPEDA violations including class actions.
    CIPPIC News Release
    CIPPIC webpage on PIPEDA reform

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  • Federal Court of Appeal Kills iPod Levy
    - 2008-01-11 -

    The Federal Court of Appeal took less than 24 hours to throw out the Copyright Board's decision to impose a levy on iPods.  The Court concluded that its 2004 decision to kill a similar levy disposed of the issue.  The Court of Appeal's decision suggests that the act of copying one's own CDs onto an iPod infringes copyright under the current law, and underscores the need for revising the Act in a balanced manner that accommodates common consumer practices.

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  • Tribunal fines man for online hate speech
    - 2008-01-10 -

    In a decision released Jan.9th, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal fined a B.C. man $6,000 and ordered him to stop spreading hate via the Internet. The Tribunal found that  the now-defunct website bcwhitepride.com "discriminates against a wide range of people, and encompasses comments that are vicious and dehumanizing, especially with respect to the disabled, a particularly vulnerable group."  The case was prompted by a 2003 complaint by the Montreal-based Centre for Research-Action on Race Relations.

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  • Canada slips in international privacy rankings
    - 2008-01-02 -

    Privacy International has released its 2007 international privacy rankings.  Once again, Canada ranks high in relative terms, but has slipped a notch from 2006, to "some safeguards but weakened protections", alongside Argentina, Iceland, and a number of European countries. The only country to merit a higher ranking ("adequate safeguards against abuse") in 2007 was Greece.

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  • CIPPIC Calls for Copyright Consultation
    - 2007-12-21 -

    CIPPIC today sent a letter to Industry Minister Jim Prentice and Heritage Minister Josee Verner calling for wide consultation on copyright legislation. Noting that copyright is a regulatory law with implications for innovation, privacy, security, education, trade, culture and consumer policy, CIPPIC goes on to observe that "the events of December, 2007, demonstrate that Canadians are alive to these issues and will demand copyright policies that are fair and attentive to Canada's interests."

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  • Bell Canada to operate Canadian Do Not Call list
    - 2007-12-21 -

    Bell Canada has been selected to operate the new Canadian "Do Not Call" list.  As such it will be responsible for registering numbers, providing telemarketers with up-to-date versions of the list, and receiving consumer complaints about telemarketing calls.  The national system is to be operational by September 30, 2008.

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  • CRTC approves new telecom complaints agency
    - 2007-12-20 -

    In a decision released today, the CRTC approved a new industry-funded agency for handling consumer issues with telecommunications services.  Earlier this year, in response to a federal government order, a number of telecom service providers set up the Commissioner for Complaints for Telecommunications Services "CCTS".  After a public proceeding this past fall, the CRTC ordered a number of changes to the industry model in order to make the body more independent and effective.  All major telecom service providers are required to join the agency by February 1, 2008. 
    CIPPIC News Release

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  • CIPPIC welcomes new telecom complaints agency
    - 2007-12-20 -

    After a public proceeding this past fall, the CRTC today ordered all major telecommunications service providers to join an industry-funded body mandated to investigate consumer complaints, award compensation where appropriate, and inquire into systemic issues.  CIPPIC welcomed the decision, which requires the industry to make its already-established Commissioner for Complaints for Telecommunications Services more independent and effective.
    CIPPIC News Release
    PIAC News Release

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  • FTC allows Google-Doubleclick merger
    - 2007-12-20 -

    In a 4-1 vote to close its investigation, the FTC has found that the $3.1b. acquisition of online advertiser Doubleclick Inc. by internet giant Google Inc. will not substantially lessen competition in the online advertising marketplace.  The Commission also found that privacy concerns about the proposed merger are “not unique to Google and DoubleClick,” and “extend to the entire online advertising marketplace".  Public interest advocates immediately decried the decision, stating that the FTC had "side-stepped its responsibility to protect both competition and privacy".  Meanwhile, the European Commission continues its in-depth investigation of Google and Doubleclick, and the Canadian Competition Bureau has yet to issue a decision on CIPPIC's application requesting a merger review.

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  • Ticketmaster found in breach of privacy laws
    - 2007-12-20 -

    The Alberta Privacy Commissioner has issued a decision finding that Ticketmaster's policy of sharing customer information with event providers for secondary marketing purposes, without meaningful consent, violated Alberta privacy laws. The Commissioner also found that Ticketmaster's privacy policy was far too complex and ambiguous. In response to the Commissioner's investigation, Ticketmaster changed its policy for Canadian customers: unless customers have explicitly agreed to marketing from event providers, their information will not be used for that purpose.  The Privacy Commissioner of Canada is expected to release her decision shortly on a similar complaint about Ticketmaster filed by CIPPIC in November 2005.

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