Wiertz Sebastien - Privacy by Sebastien Wiertz (CC BY 2.0) https://flic.kr/p/ahk6nh

Wiertz Sebastien - Privacy by Sebastien Wiertz (CC BY 2.0) https://flic.kr/p/ahk6nh

Privacy

DFAIT Launches Consultation on Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement

Months after Australia consulted their citizens about even participating in the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement and weeks after the U.S. consulted their citizens on the same treaty, the Canadian government has finally decided to ask Canadians what they think.  Better late than never – the ACTA is publicly pitched as formalization of international standards on counterfeiting, yet privately viewed as a behind closed doors attempt to ratchet up copyright laws.  Indeed, according to a document I recently obtained under the Access to Information Act, Canadian Heritage officials referred to it as a Trade Agreement on Copyright Infringement.

It is difficult to provide meaningful feedback on a treaty that no one has publicly seen, but with some lobby groups hoping to use the treaty to increase ISP liability, force cross-border disclosure of ISP subscriber information, and further advance the cause of anti-circumvention legislation, there is reason for concern.  For that reason, it is essential that Canadians take a few minutes to respond to the consultation, even if only to express concern about the lack of transparency and to urge the Canadian government to open the process to civil society groups and the broader public.  The government recently committed to greater openness with international treaty ratification and consistent with that approach, Canadians should be permitted greater access to the negotiation process.

On a substantive level, Canadians might ask for some evidence that we need another treaty on this issue. We already have agreements through WIPO, WTO, Berne, etc. – what added value will come from this treaty that is not already addressed through the current treaty framework?  Indeed, given that Canada is still grappling with the WIPO Internet treaties it seems premature to negotiate yet another treaty cover much of the same subject matter.

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April 6, 2008 12 comments News

Industry Objects to Lawful Access Costs

Lawful access is back in the news as Canwest has obtained documents that indicate that industry is battling with government over who should bear the costs.

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April 4, 2008 4 comments News

iOptOut: My Response to the Do-Not-Call Disappointment

Regular readers of my work will know that I have been frustrated by Canada's do-not-call list, which contains far too many exceptions and has taken an embarrassingly long time to become operational.  In response, today I am launching iOptOut, a website that will allow Canadians to opt-out of further phone […]

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March 27, 2008 66 comments News

H&R Block’s Privacy Policy

A reader points to the H&R Block Canada privacy policy, which includes the following gem for Canadians handing over their personal tax information: Due to H&R US's location in the United States, and in instances where your personal information is processed or stored by another affiliate or service provider in […]

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March 24, 2008 10 comments News

Conservatives Rerun New Year Card Issue

Fresh off the controversy involving Jewish New Year cards, yesterday I received an email from a reader angry over having received a Chinese New Year card from Prime Minister Stephen Harper.  The same privacy issues again come to the fore – the person is not Chinese and is upset that […]

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March 7, 2008 3 comments News