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Facing Up To Facebook Fears

My weekly Law Bytes column (Toronto Star version, homepage version) examines the recent controversy associated with Facebook, including student suspensions for postings and the Ontario government decision to ban access to the site for thousands of bureaucrats and elected officials. I argue that while the merits of Facebook is open to debate – some love it, others hate it, and many simply do not understand what the fuss is about – there should be no debating the fact that many of these policy responses are unnecessary, knee-jerk reactions to an emerging social phenomenon that is poorly understood.

The recent backlash against Facebook has generally on centered around two concerns – derogatory comments and workplace productivity (ironically missing the real sources of concern such as the privacy impact of posting deeply personal information). 

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May 7, 2007 14 comments Columns

Oda Fundraising Issue Picks Up Steam

Following on my posting earlier this week about last fall's cancelled broadcaster fundraiser for Bev Oda, the story has now generated interest in both the House of Commons and in the mainstream media. NDP Heritage critic Charlie Angus asked Oda during Question Period to explain why the donations appear to […]

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May 4, 2007 2 comments News

Calgary Police Chair Seeks New Internet Centre

The chair of Calgary's police commission wants to set up an international internet security centre in Alberta to monitor online child predators, hackers and terrorists.

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May 3, 2007 2 comments News

PIPEDA Reform Report Recommends Few Major Changes

The Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy, and Ethics yesterday released its much-anticipated (by the privacy community at least) PIPEDA report [pdf].  Canada's private sector privacy law mandates a review of the statute every five years.  This report is the first report on the law and it draws from several months of hearings that featured 67 witnesses.  The committee report makes 25 recommendations, yet those expecting an upgrade to Canadian privacy legislation will be deeply disappointed.  Most of the recommendations involve relatively small changes that make the federal law more consistent with the provincial laws in Alberta and B.C. (ie. a change in the business contact information provision that will severely hamper the ability to use PIPEDA to challenge spam) or seek to clarify the current wording (ie. clarification of different forms of consent).

On the big issues of the day, the committee generally recommended no change.  In particular, the committee recommended no order making power, no naming names, and no additional provisions related to transborder data flows.  The committee does recommend the creation of a breach notification provision, but stops short of matching U.S. style provisions by recommending that the notification go first to the Privacy Commissioner who would then determine whether individuals should be notified.  The one exception to this generally dismal outcome is that the committee recommended the removal of Section 7(1)(e), which allows organizations to collect and use personal information on national security grounds.  The Conservative MPs on the committee issued a dissenting opinion on this provision and it stands no chance of being implemented by the current government.

What to take away from the report? 

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May 3, 2007 Comments are Disabled News

Syncrude Demands Grandmother Take Down Tar Sands Photos

The Globe and Mail reports that Syncrude is demanding that an 85 year old grandmother from Colorado take down photos she took of the tar sands during a company tour last year.

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May 3, 2007 1 comment News