My weekly Law Bytes column (Toronto Star version, homepage version) examines the growing controversy over the mandatory fingerprinting of students taking the LSAT. There has been swift reaction to the thumb-printing story, with the federal, British Columbia, and Alberta Privacy Commissioners joining forces in a combined privacy investigation. Moreover, the Canadian Council of Law Deans, which represents law schools across the country, has expressed concern over the practice, acknowledging that the data could be subject to a USA Patriot Act request. The Council raised questions about whether the practice might violate federal and provincial privacy statutes.
Articles by: Michael Geist
LSAT Fingerprinting Tests The Limits of Privacy Law
Appeared in the Toronto Star on February 20, 2006 as Fingerprinting Reveals U.S. Patriot Act’s Long Reach While law schools may differ, thousands of law students (and prospective law students) share at least one common experience – the Law School Aptitude Test. The LSAT is a standardized test used by […]
Oda on Copyright Reform
The Globe has an article today on new Canadian Heritage Minister Bev Oda's plans for culture and copyright policy. The copyright comments:
"As a veteran educator – Oda spent six years teaching theatre arts and art to children in Mississauga, Ont. – she also has some caveats about the last government's proposed copyright legislation. 'Last session, our party stood up and said we'd like to look at digital access for learning materials. So we're still looking at copyright legislation overall.' Those who had hoped for the new government to automatically push through the Liberals' bill should not hold their breath."
It’s Baaack: Day Calls National ID Card Inevitable
Stockwell Day, Canada’s new minister of public security, has raised the prospect of creating a national ID card. Again. This issue was a pet project of former Liberal Minister Denis Coderre, who pushed for a national ID card that would be expensive, provide little additional security, create new privacy risks, and would remove rights to remain anonymous.
Internet Gambling Advertising Bill Introduced in Ontario
Thanks to John Gregory for pointing out that a private member’s bill was introduced yesterday into the Ontario legislature that seeks to prohibit advertising of unregulated Internet gambling. If enacted, the Bill C-60 would amend the Consumer Protection Act by adding the following provision:
"No person shall print, publish, distribute, broadcast or telecast an advertisement or representation that includes an Internet gaming business website address unless the person believes in good faith that the Internet gaming business has been licensed or otherwise granted permission to operate in Ontario or Canada by the appropriate authority and is operated in accordance with the applicable laws of Ontario and Canada."
Recent Posts
Government Remains Silent as it Eviscerates Political Party Privacy in Canada By Fast Tracking Bill C-4 
Quebec’s Streaming Regulation Bill 109: Unconstitutional, Unnecessary, and Unworkable 
Why the Government’s Plan for Warrantless Access to Internet Subscriber Information Will Lead to Millions of Disclosure Demands Each Year 
The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 235: Teresa Scassa on the Alberta Clearview AI Ruling That Could Have a Big Impact on Privacy and Generative AI 
What Is With This Government and Privacy?: Political Party Privacy Safeguards Removed in “Affordability Measures” Bill
