Information Technology
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March 15, 2024
Federal Court of Appeal rejects Google’s appeal on smart-speaker technology patent
The Federal Court of Appeal has dismissed appeals by Google relating to its patent for adaptive echo and noise control in electronic devices, upholding that Sonos Inc.’s smart speaker technology did not infringe on the patent.
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March 13, 2024
Court certifies class action for alleged privacy violation of reproductive health information
The Supreme Court of British Columbia has certified a national class action alleging privacy violations in a case where users of an app who submitted personal health data regarding their reproductive cycle said they had their information compromised.
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March 08, 2024
Securities regulators bring new ESG investment fund disclosure guidance, highlight fraud prevention
The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) has provided updated guidance for investment funds on disclosure practices related to environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters and issued recommendations on how to avoid being a victim of investment fraud.
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March 04, 2024
Canada announces new measures to protect digital media sector, national security
Canada has issued a statement to “provide additional direction on the application of the Investment Canada Act in the interactive digital media sector” for issues relating to disinformation, manipulation of information and national security.
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March 01, 2024
SCC rules police must get prior judicial authorization to seek IP addresses in crime investigations
The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled 5-4 that there is a reasonable expectation of privacy in IP addresses, which attracts the Charter’s s. 8 protection against unreasonable search or seizure and requires police investigating crimes to get prior judicial authorization to seek IP addresses from third parties.
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February 29, 2024
Competition Bureau expands investigation into Google
Canada’s competition watchdog is intensifying its scrutiny of Google with a new court order aimed at expanding its investigation into the tech giant’s online advertising practices in this country.
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February 28, 2024
Canada endorses multinational policy framework for development of 6G wireless networks
Canada has joined nine other nations in endorsing a policy framework for 6G, the next generation of wireless technologies. Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry François-Philippe Champagne said in a Feb. 26 news release that the shared principles for the research and development of 6G wireless communication systems will support open, free, global, interoperable, reliable, resilient and secure connectivity.
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February 28, 2024
Generative AI still no substitute for professional expertise, B.C. judge says
A B.C. Supreme Court judge has said a lawyer’s use of generative AI which invented two non-existent cases as part of an application in a parenting dispute was troubling but did not amount to conduct which warranted the imposition of special costs.
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February 27, 2024
Online harms bill would create new hate crimes, duties for social media, stiff fines, imprisonment
The federal government’s proposed Online Harms Act was welcomed by several advocacy groups who rated it a substantial improvement over Ottawa’s proposed blueprint three years ago; however red flags were raised, including questions around new hate crime provisions and penalties; whether the definitions of the targeted online harms are appropriately tailored; and whether a proposed new online regulator’s broad discretionary powers have adequate safeguards.
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February 23, 2024
Class action launched for data breach of RCMP, Canadian Armed Forces members’ information
A national class action has been launched against the Government of Canada and companies BGRS Ltd. and SIRVA “on behalf of all current and former RCMP members, members of the Canadian Armed Forces and other individuals working for the federal government whose personal information has been compromised in a major cyberbreach.”