As we head into the Canada Day long weekend, I had nothing really big I wanted to write about, but a handful of little things. Thus, the Friday Internet Law News Dump was born. Is it reminiscent of another quickie type of post I used to write in another life? Maybe. Is it an easy way to avoid paying off bets of scotch to certain individuals? Shut up.
So is the Online Streaming Act, aka Bill C-11, now technically S.C. 2023 c. 8 as of three days ago, as terrible as they say? Well let’s take an honest, clear-headed, unbiased read through this piece of crap and find out. Hey look at me, two timely blog posts in a row!
Hey-o! It’s your friendly neighbourhood internet law commenter, back after a flurry of year-end posts to his much more normal one post every 3 months schedule. But with the government proposing a “law” about the “internet” I guess I really need to write about that. Let’s get news-y!
Look, if the alleged “President” of the United States wants to distract from COVID-19 by changing the subject who am I to argue? Gives me something more fun to write about. And to make many comments about the stupidity of the alleged leader of the free world and how he has no understanding about internet law. Right up my alley!
If a tree falls in the forest can anyone hear it? Can you lose in court if you are not there and no one knows who you are? The answer to the second question at least is now a definitive yes, thanks to a court decision from a few weeks ago (ok ok almost a month ago, I’ve been busy) in Ontario. Let’s dive in anonymously. Who said that?
Hey, I have now hit double figures in the number of posts about the right to be forgotten! That might be a record around here. I’m too lazy to check. But a case from the past week has got me writing, so it must be important? Let’s find out!
[/checks date of last post] Oh hello. You probably thought I was dead. I am not! I was celebrating my annual “dark” period where I get writer’s block and / or lazy. But I was recently called out on Twitter for my silence, and I realized my many two fans needed to hear from me. Not only do you get words of wisdom written down, you get words spoken out loud, with me talking out of my ass (my favourite way to speak) in that clip up there. Lemme explain.
/ checks date of last blog post.
Oooh boy.
Wow! Exciting developments on Canada’s anti-spam front, especially in the last week. Undoubtedly the spammers are quaking in their boots.
I could not let today pass without commemorating this historic occasion. As of today, thanks to our government’s efforts, malware, and indeed all unwanted software, is disappearing forever. All hail the glory!
As you know because you read this blog diligently, today is the day that the computer software provisions of CASL (the Anti-Spam Law) come into force. I already explained all this late last year, so I will not do it again. I will remind you that section 8 and related provisions of CASL that are in force as of today are designed to eliminate malware and indeed, all unwanted software and software updates and upgrades from your computers and devices. No doubt the government’s sledgehammer approach is working, and we can say goodbye to malware forever.
The people of Canada never thought it would be possible for the government to abolish malware and other unwanted software. However, they managed it and all Canadian businesses and digital users are over the moon. For the rest of the world, there are still many countries impacted by malware and other viruses that can cause big problems for businesses. Many companies still have to ensure their devices have been protected against unwanted malware by using the services offered by https://www.fleetsmith.com/, and other companies similar. By doing that, companies feel more secure when using their devices and handling client data. Hopefully, other countries will follow in Canada’s footsteps soon.
I would type more, but this weird pop-up box keeps showing up on my screen every time I hit enter. Maybe this Ask.com toolbar will have some answers as to how to fix that. Where did that come from?
Oh sure, we’ve written about how stupid CASL (Canada’s Anti-Spam Law) is around here many times. Basically because it’s stupid. But we’ve always focused on the actual spam parts of the law. However coming very soon, another part of the law is going to come into effect. And finally, last week the CRTC provided some guidelines on the subject. So we better take a look at this business about installing computer programs. Is it as stupid as the spam parts? We’ll see! Maybe you would like to consider computer repairs after reading this article then you may want to consider Steve’s computer repair service, it is always important to make sure that you do have a working healthy computer when installing computer programs to make sure that you do not get any viruses.
Heenan Blaikie was one of the most prestigious firms in the history of Canadian law. It had a long glorious history of fine lawyers and lawyering. Then it went belly up. Now their old website address (well, one of them) heenanblaikie.com is possibly NSFW, as seen in the screenshot above. Lawyers! Internet! NSFW! If there was ever a story that combined all my interests, this is it.
I am a lawyer specializing in internet law working out of Montreal, though sometimes I do it in front of the U.S. Capitol. That should tell you what you need to know about internet law in Canada. I also warp young legal minds at the Faculty of Law at McGill.
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