human rights
Regulating Speech In Cyberspace: Dr. Emily Laidlaw on Corporate Social Responsibility
From Facebook Groups dedicated to rape jokes to death threats on Twitter, the Internet can seem like a free speech free-for-all. Anyone can say anything, because who is going to stop them? In her presentation, Regulating Speech in Cyberspace, University of Calgary Professor, Dr. Emily Laidlaw answers that question.
A New Dynamic Coalition on Platform Responsibility within the IGF
The re-posting of this analysis is part of a cross-posting collaboration with MediaLaws: Law and Policy of the Media in a Comparative Perspective. Two weeks ago, the Secretariat of the United Nations’ Internet Governance Forum (IGF) approved the creation of the Dynamic Coalition on Platform Responsibility (DC PR). This new component of the IGF […]
ICANN See Some Problems: New Domains and Freedom of XXXpression
Turns out the internet isn’t all about porn. Just kidding, it mostly is. But underneath the debate sparked by the .XXX domain question at last week’s international website regulatory conference are a series of fundamental issues about internet freedom of expression, the process for determining what new URLs will be on offer, the tension between […]
The “Word” Is Not Enough: New Cybercrime Prevention Act Leaves Philippine Plagiarists Criminally Vulnerable (UPDATED)
The institution of a controversial new Cybercrime Prevention Act in the Philippines may leave plagiarists subject to criminal sanctions. The penalty for the plagiarism depends on the number of prior offences, but first-time infringers can expect up to one to three years in prison.
Quantum of Solace: UK Court Deems Police Retention of Uncharged Suspect Photos an Invasion of Privacy
A UK High Court ruling handed down in June 2012 will change the policies of the Metropolitan Police (the Met), particularly after they release suspects without laying charges. In a decision centering on privacy practices and the encroachment of the State, it was held that the private interests of two complainants were compromised under the […]
Celine Dion Takes On Satirical Blogger In David And Goliath Fight (Spoiler: Goliath Wins)
Jennifer O'Dell is a JD candidate at Osgoode Hall and Denise Brunsdon is a social media writer and researcher. Only one post remains on the Ridiculous Pictures of Celine Dion Tumblr and it is tellingly tagged "RIP" and "the dion effect." Dion's lawyers sent Nick Angiolillo, the New York blogger who runs the satirical Tumblr site […]
RIM’s Battle for Information Privacy, Market Share, and its Reputation
Robert Dewald is a J.D. Candidate at Osgoode Hall Law School Canadian telecommunications giant Research in Motion (RIM), which manufacturers the popular BlackBerry, has reportedly offered information and tools to assist India’s government in monitoring encrypted emails and messaging services (Reuters). India, which had threatened to shut down the BlackBerry service, is the latest country to […]