Archive for June 21st, 2011

Is Internet Access A Human Right?: The Implications for the Rules of Access

Appeared in the Toronto Star on June 19, 2011 as Is Internet Connectivity a Human Right? Given the critical role it plays in communication, culture, and commerce, most people now recognize the importance of Internet access. A new report for the United Nations Human Rights Council takes Internet access a […]

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June 21, 2011 Comments are Disabled Columns Archive

Is Internet Access A Human Right?: The Implications for the Rules of Access

Given the critical role it plays in communication, culture, and commerce, most people now recognize the importance of Internet access. My weekly technology law column (Toronto Star version, homepage version) notes a new report for the United Nations Human Rights Council takes Internet access a step further, however, characterizing it as a human right.

The report, written by Frank La Rue, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression (an internationally regarded human rights expert who was once nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize), took the political world by storm when it was released several weeks ago. 

The report explored the need to ensure that citizens have Internet connectivity and also the rules associated with that access. As a result, it was highly critical of policies that block access to content, threaten to cut off Internet access due to allegations of copyright infringement, and fail to safeguard online privacy.

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June 21, 2011 136 comments Columns

Search Engine Focuses on Amazon One-Click Patent

Jesse Brown’s Search Engine focuses on the Amazon one-click patent case, which heads to the Federal Court of Appeal this week. Jeremy Morris, a terrific post-doc at the University of Ottawa, provides the analysis.

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June 21, 2011 Comments are Disabled News

Winseck on CRTC’s Vertical Integration Hearing

Dwayne Winseck has another great Globe column, this one focused on the CRTC’s vertical integration hearing.

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June 21, 2011 1 comment News

Government of Canada Plans for Open Data

The Ottawa chapter of Data Management International (DAMA-Ottawa) held an event last week that featured presentations on the government’s open data plans.

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June 21, 2011 Comments are Disabled News