Blogs

The US government is proposing to expand wiretap design laws in order to intercept Internet audio and video chats. This expansion will require software companies to change their current operations, and those that are not able to do so will face fines. If allowed to go through, this expansion could pose serious security risks to ordinary users of the Internet, allowing thieves & foreign agents a new and discreet way to listen in on conversations.

We must remain vigilant to ensure that such proposals do not take hold here in Canada. Speak out at: http://stopspying.ca/

Article by Somini Sengupta from The New York Times:

Surveillance can be a tricky affair in the Internet age.

A federal law called the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act allows law enforcement officials to tap a traditional phone, as long as they get approval from a judge. But if communication is through voice over Internet Protocol technology — Skype, for instance — it’s not as simple. Read more »

We at OpenMedia.ca have been working hard to ensure your voices are heard as the CRTC works to develop national rules to protect cell phone users.

If we’re successful this Code of Conduct could play a big role in increasing cell phone providers’ transparency, curbing certain price-gouging practices, and dialing back the all-too-common punitive long-term cell phone service contracts. As only three large companies continue to control 94% of Canada’s wireless market, the CRTC rules could Read more »

Copyright affects us all - artists, musicians, journalists, and anyone who enjoys sharing Facebook posts or YouTube videos with their friends. That was the clear message from last night’s Remix This: A Copyright Cabaret event, which brought together people from all walks of life in an exciting attempt to reimagine the whole concept of copyright.

Over a hundred Vancouverites attended the FreshMedia event in person, and were joined by many more from around the world who followed the discussion live using hashtag #RemixThis on Twitter.

The hilarious duo of Deep Rogue Ram - Heather Libby and Kai Nagata - emceed the night's proceedings. They were joined by a stellar lineup of guest speakers, including Kirby Ferguson (Writer, Director and Filmmaker), Geof Glass (SFU Communications PhD student), Kimberly Baker (local Disciplinary Artist), Martha Rans (Copyright Lawyer and co-founder of Artists’ Legal Outreach), Ellen Broad (Australian Digital Alliance), Erik Ashdown (co-founder of Indiloop), and Rupert Common (Rap Lyricist and Comedian).

We're working hard to make sure your voices are heard on the proposed Telus takeover of Mobilicity, one of our largest independent cell phone providers, as demonstrated in this article. If the government allows this deal to go through, it will mean even less choice and even higher prices for Canadians.

It's time to stand together and send Industry Minister Paradis a clear message - add your name at http://DemandChoice.ca/

From the Techvibes Newsdesk:

Telecommunications giant Telus has agreed to acquire discount wireless carrier Mobilicity for $380 million. Read more »

Hello!

Here's Arielle with your update:

Watch Arielle's video update to hear this week's news. This week we discuss the 17th round of the TPP's secretive negotiations in Lima, Peru. Please head to StopTheTrap.net to demand that governments involved in the TPP make the process transparent, accountable, and open to public participation and to all interested stakeholders. Read more »

The CRTC held a public hearing last week in response to Bell—Canada’s largest telecom and media conglomerate—once again attempting to take over Astral Media. Last year, the telecom giant unveiled a $3.4B plan to take control of Astral, one of Canada's largest media companies. Canada already has one of the most highly concentrated media systems in the industrialized world, and this deal would only make this situation worse by giving Bell a monopolistic share of the media market.

After thousands of Canadians and public interest groups decried the original takeover attempt, the CRTC denied the deal, saying that Bell had not proven the takeover would benefit the broadcasting system or be in the public interest. So Bell came back with a slightly watered-down version of its original proposal to take over Astral, which included dividing some assets up with Shaw, another one of Canada’s largest media and telecom conglomerates. Read more »