Last week in Shanghai, Internet Corp. for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the agency responsible for administering the Internet, conducted the most important meeting in its brief history. Following months of debate on institutional reform, the ICANN board approved the elimination of board positions reserved for the general public, shelved plans for Internet user participation through on-line elections and removed most of the mechanisms that hold ICANN accountable.
Columns Archive
Net Copyright Reform: Its Deep in Policy Agenda
Earlier this month the federal government delivered its much-anticipated Speech from the Throne, setting its legislative and policy agenda for the years ahead. Several days later, amid far less fanfare, it released a second legislative and policy agenda, which is must-reading for those concerned with copyright and the Internet because it establishes the government's priorities for copyright reform for at least the next five years.
Federal Proposal Tells Only Part of Cybercrime Story
In the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the Canadian government hurriedly introduced a series of new anti-terror measures.
Net Contract Fights Should Avoid Courts
E-commerce success depends not only on government policies such as jurisdiction and taxation, but even more critically on an underlying issue — will courts enforce electronic contracts consummated on-line, typically by consumers clicking an "I agree" icon on a Web page? On that question, courts appear split.
E-commerce Tax Policy Penalizes Canadian Business
While my previous column highlighted encouraging new Canadian policy on the consumer e-commerce front, recent e-commerce tax policy developments are troubling. After several years of deliberations, the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency has released its interpretation on the application of the goods and service tax to e-commerce. The result should set off alarm bells among Canadian businesses engaged in e-commerce, since it places them at a competitive disadvantage relative to their U.S. and European rivals.
Recent Posts
The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 231: Sara Bannerman on How Canadian Political Parties Maximize Voter Data Collection and Minimize Privacy Safeguards 
The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 230: Aengus Bridgman on the 2025 Federal Election, Social Media Platforms, and Misinformation 
The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 229: My Digital Access Day Keynote – Assessing the Canadian Digital Policy Record 
Queen’s University Trustees Reject Divestment Efforts Emphasizing the Importance of Institutional Neutrality 
The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 228: Kumanan Wilson on Why Canadian Health Data Requires Stronger Privacy Protection in the Trump Era
