This election, we need to put privacy front and centre to ensure every Canadian has surveillance-free Internet. Sign our pro-Internet vote pledge today. Article by Michael Geist for the Toronto Star Canada’s controversial anti-terrorism bill, Bill C-51, has emerged as a key talking point in the current election campaign. Pointing to
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OpenMedia.ca: AdWeek: Brazilian Kids Learn English by Video Chatting With Lonely Elderly Americans FCB’s touching work for a language school
When the Internet works for good! Article by Tim Nudd for AdWeek It’s such a great, simple idea: Young Brazilians want to learn English. Elderly Americans living in retirement homes just want someone to talk to. Why not connect them? FCB Brazil did just that with its “Speaking Exchange” project
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: CTV: Digital privacy concerns ‘the new normal’ as users pay with personal information
Personal information is becoming the new currency of the digital age. Article by Peter Henderson (Canadian Press) for CTV TORONTO — Microsoft’s new Windows 10 operating system has been praised for improving upon the flaws of its predecessor, but the company is facing widespread criticism for what some are calling
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: A day in the life of dial-up or: Why we need affordable, world-class service for 100% of Canadians
Below is a guest blog from Carol Vlassoff, an OpenMedia community member and resident of Hawk Lake Quebec who faces barriers to affordable, high-speed Internet access in her community. It is widely believed that all people in today’s world must be able to access the Internet in order to exercise and enjoy their basic human rights.
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Never Home: Federal government gives itself unprecedented spying powers
How reckless legislation like Bill C-51 is already affecting families here in Canada. Article by Never Home New anti-terror and security legislation grants extraordinary powers for surveillance, secret hearings, and preventative detention in Canada. Security: Refugees and permanent residents are facing secret trials, deportation or limbo due to tightened security processes.
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: EFF: Nothing Is Agreed Yet—We Can Still Stop The TPP’s Copyright Trap
Despite all the talks, the TPP negotiations remain tentative until each country signs off on the final agreement.The battle’s not over yet, let’s keep speaking up against this Internet-censoring deal! Add your voice at StoptheSecrecy.net Article by Jeremy Malcolm for EFF read more
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Aphabeatic: Germany’s broadband plan shames Canada (again)
Germany will have affordable internet connections of at least 50 Mbps by 2018. The Harper government promised 5 Mbps by 2019. Enough said… Which party do you think will do a better job at ensuring Canadians get faster, cheaper Internet? Let us know in the comments below! Article by Peter
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Geist: Canadian Music Industry Hit With Competition Complaint Over Public Domain Recordings
The internet we love is based on creators being able to freely, cheaply, and easily share their work! #SaveTheLink Article by Michael Geist Earlier this year, I wrote about the secret campaign by major record labels and publishers to stop the release of public domain recordings, most notably Beatles records that outsold the offerings
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: CBC: Most kids’ apps, websites collect and share personal information
When it comes to online data collection, children are the most vulnerable audience. Article by CBC News Most apps and websites for children collect personal information such as photos and addresses, and many say they may share that information with third parties, an annual global privacy survey suggests. read more
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Star: Trudeau backed C-51, but won’t say if it’s constitutional
Looks like the Liberal Party voted for a bill they’re not even sure is constitutional… Article by the Canadian Press at the Toronto Star BROSSARD, QUE. — Justin Trudeau won’t say if Bill C-51 — the controversial anti-terror bill introduced by the Conservatives — is constitutional, even though the Liberals
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Georgia Straight: OpenMedia encourages voters to consider policies around access, privacy in federal election
Check out this amazing coverage of our pro-Internet election plan on The Georgia Straight! The Internet is something we shouldn’t take for granted. We should take action to have our democratic rights as citizens, to make sure it stays open, accessible and free for everyone. This election, vote for the Internet! OurDigitalFuture.ca
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Vote as Early as Today!
So you’re out of town or too busy on election day, Oct. 19th. Or perhaps you made up your mind long before debate season. Well here’s some good news: you can vote right now! Although not everyone knows about early voting, it is a legal option that every Canadian can
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Vice: Canadian Cops Want to Search Your Mail
Update: The RCMP is now going after your mail. Article by Justin Ling for Vice With a federal election in its home stretch, Canada’s chiefs of police have issued a wish list of investigative powers they are hoping that the country’s next prime minister can deliver — everything from allowing
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Common Sense Canadian: Why privacy matters in this Canadian election
Most Canadians do not want to give up their privacy rights. This election, will you vote for online privacy? Pledge your vote at OurDigitalFuture.ca Article by Kevin Grandia for Common Sense Canadian While you are out this weekend enjoying the last days of summer on the beach and the RCMP come
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Arstechnica: Videotron provoking net neutrality fight with unlimited music
Instead of giving Big Telecom giants the power to choose which online apps and services are more expensive, why don’t they treat all services equally? Let’s put Canadians in the driver’s seat – not these out of touch telecom giants. Article by Peter Nowak for Arstechnica Quebec wireless provider Videotron
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Barking Technology: Bell still claims to have a right to charge customers for a non-existent service
Bell is continuing to fight to charge customers for a 911 service that did not exist… Article by William Neilson for Barking Technology The Toronto Sun has a rather shocking story of Bell Canada’s continued fight to assert that they were legally allowed to charge customers a monthly fee for a 911 service that
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: National Post: How one guy tried to copyright a chicken sandwich. (With tomato, lettuce, garlic, and mayo)
On copyright crazy… Article by Roberto Fedrman, Washington Post In 1987, Norberto Colón Lorenzana had what we can all agree is a pretty unremarkable idea. Colón, who had just started working at a fast food joint called Church’s Chicken in Puerto Rico, suggested to his employer that they try adding
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Attentiv: The Anonymity Impossibility
Today, half of internet users are concerned about the amount of their personal information that is available there. But is it really possible to be completely anonymous online? Here are some answers and cool facts about the ‘anonymity impossibility’. Article by Attentiv Anonymity and information privacy are hot issues.
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Rabble: Fact-checking the Conservatives’ rural broadband strategy
The government’s rural broadband strategy falls way short of our digital platform and here’s why. We need to fight back by pledging to vote now at OurDigitalFuture.ca Article by Nora Loreto for Rabble.ca The 2015 federal election promises to be an ugly fight, with a lot of half-truths and fact
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: National Post: Public servant being investigated for writing and performing anti-Tory ‘Harperman’ song
An Ottawa federal scientist’s job is in danger after he recorded a song speaking out against the government’s politics of fear. Article by Kathryn May, Post Media News at the National Post An Ottawa federal scientist is being investigated for breaching the public service’s ethics code for writing and performing
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