Post Tagged with: "spam"

Setting the Record Straight On the ECPA (C-27)

The Industry Committee held two days of hearings on C-27, the Electronic Commerce Protection Act, this week with Industry Minister Tony Clement appearing on Tuesday and my appearance (together with CAUCE executives) on Thursday. The line of questioning on both days was very similar and it is clear that some groups are seeking to sow seeds of doubt about the legislation. I tried to address some of the misconceptions and inaccuracies during my appearance, but it is worth taking these claims head on (I will update as needed):

June 12, 2009 — 17 comments — News

Debating C-27: My Appearance Before the Industry Committee

Yesterday I appeared before the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology to discuss Bill C-27, the Electronic Commerce Protection Act. The Conservatives, NDP, and Bloc have also demonstrated strong support for the bill. The Liberals have been cautious, indicating that they support the principle but expressing "significant concerns" about specific provisions. My opening tried to address some of those concerns and the dialogue that followed led to a lively debate. My opening statement is posted below. Audio of the hearing available here (the transcript is not yet online).

June 12, 2009 — 2 comments — Committees, News

Anti-Spam Bill Will Face Tough Fight Over Consumer Protections

The recent introduction of the Electronic Commerce Protection Act, Canada's long-awaited anti-spam bill, has been greeted with initial all-party support in the House of Commons. The bill just passed second reading with committee hearings the next step in the legislative process. My weekly technology law column (Toronto Star version, Ottawa Citizen version, homepage version) argues that looking ahead, the big fight seems destined to focus on the government's desire to establish a comprehensive regime with tough penalties that apply to most commercial communications to consumers. Consumer groups will likely welcome the reforms, while some business and marketing organizations may paint a gloomy picture of the costs associated with the new regulations.

May 19, 2009 — 6 comments — Columns

Anti-Spam Bill Faces Fight Over Consumer Protections

Appeared in the Toronto Star on May 19, 2009 as Anti-spam Bill Targeting Phishers, Spyware Appeared in the Ottawa Citizen on May 19, 2009 as Long-Awaited Anti-Spam Bill Likely Faces a Few More Hurdles The recent introduction of the Electronic Consumer Protection Act, Canada's long-awaited anti-spam bill, has been greeted […]

May 19, 2009 — Comments are Disabled — Columns Archive

Electronic Commerce Protection Act Headed To Committee Following Odd Debate

The Electronic Commerce Protection Act (Bill C-27) is headed for committee review following two days of rather strange debate in the House of Commons last Thursday and Friday. What was ensued was alternately predictable and bizarre. The predictable part was the all-party support for anti-spam legislation. MPs from all four parties talked about the need for anti-spam legislation, how it was long overdue, it is costly, it undermines confidence, etc.

The bizarre part was the discussion on the bill's implications for the do-not-call list. As I wrote soon after the bill was introduced, buried at the very end are provisions that kill the do-not-call list. Given the problems associated with the list, moving toward an opt-in approach (rather than DNCL's opt-out) could be a good thing. Yet the government seems determined to deny that the bill lays the groundwork to kill the list.

May 12, 2009 — 4 comments — News