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CRTC on Over-The-Top Video: Opportunity Not Threat

CRTC Commissioner Peter Menzies delivered a speech for Len Katz yesterday at the Banff World Media Festival, which featured some notable comments about over-the-video services such as Netflix: OTT is an exciting new way to reach out to people. Let’s not think of it as a threat to Canadian content. […]

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June 12, 2012 2 comments News

Seeking Solutions to the Mounting Social Media Privacy Concerns

The House of Commons Committee on Ethics, Accountability and Privacy recently launched a major new study into the privacy concerns raised by popular social media sites. The study promises to canvass a wide range of perspectives as elected officials grapple with emerging privacy issues and consider whether the current legal framework provides sufficient protection.

Canadians are among the most active social media users in the world, yet the growing reliance on sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+ has generated unease with the privacy implications of massive data collection. My weekly technology law column last week (Toronto Star version, homepage version) notes I was recently invited to appear before the committee and used my time to identify four areas in need of action.

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June 11, 2012 1 comment Columns

Government Says Vote on C-11 By June 18th

Government House Leader Peter Van Loan told the House of Commons last week that the government intends to have a third reading vote on Bill C-11, the copyright reform bill, by June 18th. ∓

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June 11, 2012 16 comments News

ACTA Protests Sweep Across Europe

Thousands came out over the weekend across Europe to protest against the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement. A vote in the European Parliament is expected next month.

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June 11, 2012 Comments are Disabled News

Treasury Board, Canada Post At Odds Over Postal Codes

The Ottawa Citizen reports that Treasury Board and Canada Post are at odds over making the postal code database openly available to the public. Treasury Board wants the information openly available, while Canada Post wants to charge thousands of dollars for it.

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June 11, 2012 2 comments News