MedEdge 2014 -- New Medical Innovations Bring Privacy Dangers

The 2014 MedEdge Summit was a resounding success. Academics, innovators, entrepreneurs, and practitioners filled the auditorium and networking booths. As one of the lucky attendees, I zoomed in on Dr. Cafazzo’s talk about the significant lack of human use considerations (“reverse human engineering”) in the design of traditional medical products, and the introduction of new […]

An Interview with James Williams and Michael Power: Putting Privacy and Data Protection Under the Lens

The course Comparative Law: Privacy and Data Protection is offered this coming term at Osgoode Law School. IP Osgoode interviewed the course co-professors, James Williams (Osgoode site, personal site) and Michael Power (Osgoode site, personal site) for their insight on the exciting contemporary debates in the field.

Diagnosing Ontario's Electronic Medical Records Bill: Healthier, but Not Out of the Woods Yet

The Ontario Government's new electronic health records bill has passed its second reading. The Electronic Personal Health Information Protection Act (Bill 78, EPHIPA or EHR Act), is a responsive and important - yet still wanting - update to Ontario's 2004 electronic health records legislation.

Developments in Data Protection in 2012 and Trends for 2013

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. 2012 was a very busy year for Italian lawmakers. Several laws significantly amended the Italian data protection legal framework, as set forth in the Italian Data Protection Code (Legislative Decree No. 196/2003).

Video Game Consoles: The Gift that Keeps on Giving (Personal Info)

'Twas the season for video games. And what better way to top up the coolest gift you gave over the holidays than with an accompanying list of privacy warnings for your loved one?

Defriend: Privacy Concerns are back in the Newsfeed

An Austrian student studying law in Silicon Valley has raised serious flags about Facebook’s lack of adherence to privacy law and disclosure regulation.

The Stalkers in our Computers - Online Ad Tracking + Privacy

On 17 February, 2012 the Wall Street Journal published a story claiming that Google had bypassed Safari web-browser security settings on Mac and mobile devices in order to track users that did not wish to be tracked. This information led to an investigation by the Federal Trade Commission deemed “Safari-gate”, resulting in the largest FTC […]

The Sun Sets on ICANN 45 - Reviewing the gTLD Implementation Plan

One of the primary discussion topics at ICANN 45 in Toronto concerned the implementation of new gTLDs and the effects the new processes would have on the rights holders of various trade-marks.

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 […]

Spat Between Pilot and Attendants’ Unions Results in Intrusive Disclosure Order

In Manish Patel v Unite, [2012] EWHC 92 (QB), a pilot, who claims he was defamed and harassed by postings on the British Airline Steward and Stewardesses Association (BASSA) forum, applies to the court for an order to allow an independent expert to copy and examine the forum database in order to identify who posted […]