Posts Tagged ‘Privacy’

EU Commission proposes comprehensive reform of data protection rules

January 26th, 2012

Yesterday, the European Commission proposed a comprehensive reform of the EU’s 1995 data protection rules to strengthen online privacy rights and boost Europe’s digital economy. Highlights of the reform plan are described by the Commission as follows:

  • A single set of rules on data protection, valid across the EU. Unnecessary administrative requirements, such as notification requirements for companies, will be removed. This will save businesses around €2.3 billion a year.
  • Instead of the current obligation of all companies to notify all data protection activities to data protection supervisors – a requirement that has led to unnecessary paperwork and costs businesses €130 million per year, the Regulation provides for increased responsibility and accountability for those processing personal data.
This is a preview of EU Commission proposes comprehensive reform of data protection rules. Read full post.

No comments »

Posted in Privacy, data protection

Tags:

Ontario recognizes privacy tort of intrusion upon seclusion

January 18th, 2012

The Ontario Court of Appeal formally recognized today the existence of a tort for an intrusion upon seclusion. In the widely watched case of Jones v Tsige 2012 ONCA 32, the Court reviewed the prior case law from around the country, the US and the Commonwealth. After doing so, it concluded that Ontario has already accepted the existence of a tort claim for appropriation of personality and that it was appropriate for the Court to confirm the existence of a right of action for intrusion upon seclusion. “Recognition of such a cause of action would amount to an incremental step that is consistent with the role of this court to develop the common law in a manner consistent with the changing needs of society.”

This is a preview of Ontario recognizes privacy tort of intrusion upon seclusion. Read full post.

No comments »

Posted in invasion of privacy

Tags:

Copyright and privacy bills to be introduced in House of Commons

September 27th, 2011

The Government will likely introduce new Bills to amend the Copyright Act and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) within the next few days. The Parliament of Canada Notice Paper for Wednesday September 28, 2011 provides notice that the Minister of Industry and Minister of State (Agriculture) will introduce a Bill entitled “An Act to Amend the Copyright Act” and a Bill entitled “An Act to Amend the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act”.  The actual notices are dated September 27, 2011, which means that the Bills could be introduced as early as this Thursday.

Permanent link to this post

No comments »

Posted in Copyright, Piracy, Privacy, c-32, copyright reform

Tags:

Developments in Computer, Internet and E-Commerce Law (2010-2011)

June 15th, 2011

Here are the slides used in my presentation to the Toronto Computer Lawyers Group earlier today, The Year in Review: Developments in Computer, Internet and E-Commerce Law (2010-2011). It covers significant developements since my talk last spring.

The slides include a summary of the following cases and statutory materials:

Privacy:

Cite Cards Canada Inc. v. Pleasance, 2011 ONCA 3

Leon’s Furniture Limited v. Alberta (Information and Privacy Commissioner), 2011 ABCA 94

State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company v. Privacy Commissioner of Canada, 2010 FC 736

Nammo v. TransUnion of Canada Inc., 2010 FC 1284

This is a preview of Developments in Computer, Internet and E-Commerce Law (2010-2011). Read full post.

No comments »

Posted in Amazon, Computer Misuse, Copyright, E-commerce, Electronic Commerce Protection Act (ECPA), FISA, FIWSA, Fair Dealing, Google Book Scanning, ISP Liability, IT Contracts, Limitations of liability, Outsourcing, Patents, Piracy, Presentations, Privacy, Trade Marks, authorization, business method patents, communication to the public, conflicts of law, conflicts of laws, contributory infringement, data protection, idea expression dichotomy, iiNet case, intellectual property, p2p piracy, spam

Tags:

The OPC on online tracking, profiling and targeting and cloud computing

May 7th, 2011

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner released a report yesterday on online tracking, profiling and targeting and cloud computing, Report on the 2010 Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada’s Consultations on Online Tracking, Profiling and Targeting, and Cloud Computing. These areas are currently very hot and challenging topics for Canadians and Canadian businesses.

The privacy issues raised by online tracking, profiling and targeting and cloud computing raise many questions with important public policy and economic implications. The report, by and large, raises and does a good job of explaining the issues and challenges. Beyond explaining general principles, it does not purport to provide any real guidelines. After discussing the issues and generally applicable principles, the OPC asked for further comments and input on most of the intriguing questions.

This is a preview of The OPC on online tracking, profiling and targeting and cloud computing. Read full post.

No comments »

Posted in Privacy, cloud computing, online profiling

Tags:

Significant Privacy Law Decision: Leon’s Furniture v Alberta (IPC)

May 4th, 2011

By Geoff Hall and Kara Smyth*

The Alberta Court of Appeal recently overturned a decision of the Alberta Privacy Commissioner resulting in a significant privacy law decision for businesses in Alberta and B.C. The Court endorsed a deferential approach to businesses and their adoption of reasonable policies towards the collection of personal information. The majority ruled that the collection of personal information must only be “reasonable.” A business need not show that it adopted the “best” or “least intrusive” approaches.”

Summary

In a split decision released March 29, 2011, the Alberta Court of Appeal overturned a decision of the Alberta Privacy Commissioner: Leon’s Furniture Limited v. Alberta (Information and Privacy Commissioner), 2011 ABCA 94.

This is a preview of Significant Privacy Law Decision: Leon’s Furniture v Alberta (IPC). Read full post.

No comments »

Posted in Privacy, data protection

Tags:

Developments in Computer, Internet and E-Commerce Law (2009-2010)

May 26th, 2010

Here are the slides used in my presentation to the Toronto Computer Lawyers Group earlier today,  The Year in Review: Developments in Computer, Internet and E-Commerce Law (2009-2010). It covers significant developements since my talk last spring.

The slides include a summary of the following cases and statutory references:

Tercon Contractors Ltd. v. British Columbia, 2010 SCC 4

Internet Broadcasting Corporation Ltd. v Mar LLC [2009] EWHC 844 (Ch)

Gammasonics Institute for Medical Research Pty Ltd v Comrad Medical Sysytems Pty Ltd [2010] NSWSC 267 (9 April 2010)

Kingsway Hall Hotel Ltd. v Red Sky IT (Hounslow) Ltd. [2010] EWHC 965

This is a preview of Developments in Computer, Internet and E-Commerce Law (2009-2010). Read full post.

No comments »

Posted in Copyright, Criminal Law, E-commerce, Electronic Commerce Protection Act (ECPA), Fair Dealing, Fair Use, Fundamental breach, Google Book Scanning, Graduated Response, ISP Liability, IT Contracts, Limitations of liability, Patents, Piracy, Presentations, Privacy, Trade Marks, data protection, human rights, intellectual property, isohunt, p2p piracy

Tags:

Government introduces bills to fight SPAM and spyware and to amend PIPEDA

May 25th, 2010

Earlier today the Government introduced two important Bills – Bills C-28 and C-29.

Bill C-28, Fighting Internet and Wireless Spam Act, is the re-introduction of the Electronic Commerce Protection Act (ECPA). It is essentially the Bill as passed by the House of Commons just before the olympics with a few changes. Most of the changes are to harmonize the language to drafting conventions or to clarify the legislative intent.

The Bill is a major improvement over the initial version of the ECPA which was significantly improved during the Industry Committee review.

The Bill would do the following:

This is a preview of Government introduces bills to fight SPAM and spyware and to amend PIPEDA. Read full post.

1 comment »

Posted in Electronic Commerce Protection Act (ECPA), Privacy

Tags:

Is graduated response necessary to protect human rights from online copyright infringement?

April 19th, 2010

Last week, the Irish High Court released an important decision in the EMI Records & Ors -v- Eircom Ltd ,  [2010] IEHC 108 case. The court held that a settlement agreement between an Irish ISP, Eircom, and owners of copyright protected sound recordings and videos to implement a voluntary graduated response system was compatible with Irish data protection legislation. The ruling by Justice Charleton delivered on 16th April, 2010, is noteworthy not only because it found that collecting and using IP addresses for the purposes of sending out graduated response notices to subscribers does not violate data protection legislation. It is also noteworthy because the court recognized that the right to copyright is a human right protected by the Constitution of Ireland, 1937; and that the graduated response protocol was fully justified in light of the importance of copyright and the adverse effects of unauthorized online file sharing.

This is a preview of Is graduated response necessary to protect human rights from online copyright infringement?. Read full post.

1 comment »

Posted in Copyright, Graduated Response, Piracy, Three Strikes, copyright reform, data protection, human rights

Tags: