Appeared in the Toronto Star on October 30, 2006 as Public No Pushover on Snooping Law The push for new Internet surveillance capabilities dates back to 1999, when a diverse group of government departments and agencies began crafting proposals to institute new surveillance technologies within Canadian networks along with additional […]
Wiertz Sebastien - Privacy by Sebastien Wiertz (CC BY 2.0) https://flic.kr/p/ahk6nh
Privacy
MSFT and the Ontario IPC Office
The Office of the Ontario Privacy Commissioner has long been a world leader in privacy advocacy, displaying a remarkable ability to anticipate the privacy impact of cutting-edge technologies. Given its track record, the attention being lavished on the release of a new document on identity management is much deserved as it merits wide reading. The Seven Laws of Identity builds on work being done by Microsoft designed to allow Internet users to better manage their online "identities" by limiting the disclosure of personal information ("data minimization"), using better authentication practices, and building in user consent and controls. In recent news reports, the Office has touted the virtues of its Seven Laws of Identity approach, with claims that it will help solve Internet ills such as phishing, pharming, and spam.
As I read the coverage and white paper, I am left somewhat uncomfortable.
ICANN Sacrifices Privacy for Shot at Independence
My weekly Law Bytes column (Toronto Star version, BBC version, homepage version) examines the recent agreement between ICANN and the U.S. government. Late last month, ICANN took a major step toward addressing some ongoing concerns by signing a new agreement with the U.S. government entitled the Joint Project Agreement. ICANN immediately heralded the JPA as a "dramatic step forward" for full management of the Internet's domain name system through a "multi-stakeholder model of consultation." It added that the agreement grants it unprecedented independence by removing many of the U.S. government’s oversight controls. These include the elimination of a twice-annual reporting requirement to the U.S. Department of Commerce (ICANN will instead release a single annual report targeted to the full Internet community) and a shift away from the highly prescriptive policy responsibilities featured in the original ICANN contract.
While the JPA may indeed represent an important change, a closer examination of its terms suggest that there may be a hidden price tag behind ICANN newfound path toward independence – the privacy of domain name registrants.
ICANN Sacrifices Privacy for Shot at Independence
Appeared in the Toronto Star on October 9, 2006 as Web's Naming Body Barters Away Privacy Appeared in the BBC on October 10, 2006 as Internet Privacy 'Sacrified" By ICANN Internet governance has attracted increasing attention in recent years as governments, business communities, and Internet users struggle to develop a […]
The ISP Privacy Pledge
The ISP Privacy Pledge, an initiative from CIPPIC and Online Rights Canada, has generated some interesting debate this week. Mark Goldberg criticizes the pledge, arguing that it encourages ISPs to look the other way as part of police investigations, fails to address corporate abuses of personal information, and supports a "digital exemption" to laws and justice. I think that Alec Saunders does a great job of rebutting Goldberg's position by focusing on the potential for law enforcement abuse, but I wanted to add two additional comments.
Recent Posts
The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 232: What Will Canadian Digital Policy Look Like Under the New Liberal Carney Government? 
The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 231: Sara Bannerman on How Canadian Political Parties Maximize Voter Data Collection and Minimize Privacy Safeguards 
The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 230: Aengus Bridgman on the 2025 Federal Election, Social Media Platforms, and Misinformation 
The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 229: My Digital Access Day Keynote – Assessing the Canadian Digital Policy Record 
Queen’s University Trustees Reject Divestment Efforts Emphasizing the Importance of Institutional Neutrality
