News

Federal Privacy Commissioner concerned that no-fly list will infringe on privacy rights

- 2005-08-10 -

The Privacy Commissioner of Canada has raised concerns that the no-fly list announced by the Canadian government government on August 5, 2005. In an August 9, 2005 press release, Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart states that the no-fly list "represents a serious incursion into the rights of travelers in Canada, rights of privacy and rights of freedom of movement." The Commissioner has provided Transport Canada officals with a list of questions about the proposed no fly list.

+ read more
CRIA Pledges Not to Sue iPod Users

- 2005-08-08 -

In the wake of the Supreme Court of Canada's refusal to hear the appeal of the Federal of Appeal's December Private Copying decision, Graham Henderson, President of the Canadian Recording Industry Association, has pledged on behalf of its "major label members" not to sue those who copy legally acquired music to "portable devices". CRIA also extended the pledge to copies made to "hard drives", although the private copying decision did not address the issue of private copies made to hard drives. CRIA Pledge Professor Geist's Comment on CRIA Pledge

+ read more
Government to consult on passenger screening program

- 2005-08-05 -

The federal government announced today the launch of public consultations on the implementation of air passenger information provisions contained in the Public Safety Act, 2002. Under the proposed "Passenger Protect" program, the Government of Canada will create a list of individuals who pose an immediate threat to aviation security and who will be prevented from boarding aircraft. The program, targeted for implementation in 2006, will lay the foundation for future passenger assessment initiatives and allow airlines to provide information on individuals on this list to the federal government. A similar program in the US has come under fire for targeting innocent travellers.

+ read more
Study shows Telus blocked 766 websites

- 2005-08-03 -

A report released by the OpenNet Initiative states that Telus's blocking of a union website actually blocked access to at least 766 additional, unrelated websites with domain names hosted on the same server as the blocked site. Telus apparently remains of the position that it has the right to block any site it chooses.

+ read more
New Ontario Consumer Protection law comes into effect

- 2005-07-30 -

New consumer protection legislation comes into effect in Ontario today. The Consumer Protection Act,2002 and associated regulations provide consumers with special rights regarding purchases made over the Internet, as well as in other contexts. Under the new law, consumers will not be liable for unsolicited goods and services, and consumer rights to sue under the Act cannot be blocked by mandatory arbitration clauses. The Ontario government claims that this new law makes it a leader in consumer protection. Ontario Ministry of Consumer and Business Services news release and backgrounder CIPPIC submission on draft regs (Feb 2004)

+ read more
Supreme Court overturns acquittal on counselling offences via the Internet

- 2005-07-29 -

An Alberta man who sold instructions over the Internet on how to generate valid credit card numbers, how to break into a house, and how to make a bomb, will be back in court on the charge of counselling to commit fraud. In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court found that because the accused had read the credit-card generator file and created his own numbers, there was evidence of intent to commit a crime. However, it upheld acquittals on the other charges given the lack of evidence of intent. The court emphasized that what matters is intent, not motive. Globe and Mail story

+ read more
CIPPIC urges government to make most of PIPEDA Review

- 2005-07-29 -

In an article published in the July 2005 edition of Canadian Privacy Law Review, Philippa Lawson argues that the upcoming five-year review of Canada

+ read more
Telus gets injunction against union website

- 2005-07-29 -

After blocking access to a union website for several days (see previous news), Telus has obtained a court order prohibiting "the Telecommunications Workers Union(TWU) and its members and anyone else having knowledge of the order from posting for public viewing on any website any photographs or identifying features with the intent of intimidating or threatening TELUS employees, contractors, customers, suppliers and others." Canada Newswire story

+ read more
Supreme Court rejects appeal requests re: private copying levy

- 2005-07-29 -

Applications by both sides (retailers and the Canadian Privacy Copying Collective) for leave to appeal the Federal Court of Appeal's decision on private copying have been dismissed by the Supreme Court of Canada. This means that the Canadian private copying levy is legal, but does not apply to iPods. Whether or not copying to iPods and other such devices is legal remains unclear. News.com story

+ read more
Microsoft clamping down on piracy

- 2005-07-26 -

Beginning today, Windows XP users downloading add-ons (other than security patches) will have to verify that their copy of XP is legitimate. The new validation process is part of a stepped-up effort by Microsoft to clamp down on software piracy. But privacy advocates are expressing concern about the amount of user information that Microsoft is collecting. News.com story Globe and Mail story

+ read more

More news items...

Copyright

Privacy

Telecom Policy

Electronic Surveillance

Open Information

Digital Expression

Consumer Protection

News