Business groups resumed their attacks on proposed anti-spam legislation yesterday. The Investment Funds Institute of Canada argued against consent provisions before a House of Commons committee.
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CIPPIC Launches DigitalAgenda.ca
CIPPIC has launched an exciting new advocacy site – DigitalAgenda.ca. The site provides information and tools for speaking out on copyright, net neutrality, lawful access, and the ECPA. The copyright section is the most robust at the moment, complete with a sample letter for the consultation and an Idea Torrent […]
Full Transcript of My C-27 Committee Appearance
The full transcript of my appearance before the Industry Committee discussing Bill C-27 has now been posted online.
Canada’s Digital Economy: Toward A Safer, Stronger Online Marketplace
I appeared earlier today at Industry Minister Tony Clement's Canada's Digital Economy Conference. I shared the stage with Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart and Tim Wilson from Visa Canada on a panel titled Toward A Safer, Stronger Online Marketplace. My prepared remarks are posted below:
Canada’s Digital Economy: Toward A Safer, Stronger Online Marketplace
Michael Geist, June 22, 2009
Let me begin by thanking Minister Clement – both for the invitation to speak here today and more importantly for his leadership on this critical issue. We all recognize the importance of the digital environment for commercial, cultural, educational, and communication purposes. Canada was once a proud leader in this arena and I think most would acknowledge that we have failed in recent years to articulate much-needed vision, strategy, and perhaps most importantly – urgency.
Minister Clement opened today’s conference by citing confidence as one of his key concerns. I think he’s identified a crucial concern. Privacy and security are key components in instilling this confidence, but there are other issues. I recently wrote about a digital action plan and I want to tease out several points that arise within the context of building confidence.
Ordinary Thursday Anything But For Canadian Internet
My weekly technology law column (Toronto Star version, homepage version) notes that last Thursday began as an ordinary, rainy, spring day in Ottawa. Canadian politicians, having just avoided an unwanted election, were only two days away from an extended summer break. Yet by the end of the day, a trio of events unfolded that could help shape the Internet in Canada for years to come.
The first event took place mid-morning, with the introduction of new lawful access legislation. The bills would dramatically change the Internet in Canada, requiring Internet service providers to install new surveillance capabilities, force them to disclose subscriber information such as name, address, and email address without a court order, as well as grant police broad new powers to obtain Internet transmission data.