The global fight for an open Internet: Weekly Update from OpenMedia.ca

Hello!

Here's Lindsey with your update:

Right now, the global pro-Internet community is engaged in the fight against the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a secretive international agreement that includes exceptionally restrictive copyright measures, which could effectively lock down the Internet. Together, the global pro-Internet community is pushing forward (and succeeding on many fronts!) in the fight for a more open Internet, so we know we can be effective against the TPP as well. Spread the word about the Internet Lockdown today. 

Thanks for watching and reading, 

- The OpenMedia.ca Team

Recent News:

Is the Conservative Party divided on online spying?

Quickly after anonymous government sources told The Globe and Mail that online spying bill C-30 had quietly died, Public Safety Minister Vic Toews scurried to get in front of reporters to make it clear that, despite massive public pressure, he intends to push through the online spying plan. According to Toews, “Our government has been very clear, that matter will be referred to a Parliamentary committee.”

These conflicting reports suggest the Conservative Government is split on whether the online spying bill should continue on its shaky path toward becoming law. Earlier this year several Conservative MPs took public stands against warrantless access to our private information, which helped stall the legislation. It appears that some members of the Conservative party truly want to do the right thing: to stop this wildly unpopular bill in its tracks. And the Conservative base is certainly against the bill. Read more »

Action on the Homefront: Introducing the Street Team Program

As part of OpenMedia.ca’s commitment to community engagement and ground-level participation in the fight for a more open, affordable Internet, we are pleased to introduce the OpenMedia.ca Street Team program.

The OpenMedia.ca Street Team program will engage the public in issues that will have a massive effect on Canada’s digital future moving forward. If you choose to join us, you’ll be making an important impact by spreading the word about Internet openness and affordability in crucial ridings through local events, local initiatives, and more! Read more »

The online spying bill is alive and well

There are rumours circulating about the government's online spying bill C-30 as of late, but PR aside, the government has NOT pulled the legislation, and it has failed to make any firm commitments to make substantive changes. As it stands, Bill C-30 is still alive in Parliament, including sections that allow a range of "authorities" to access the personal information of any Canadian, at any time, without a warrant.

By speaking through anonymous sources in the Globe and Mail, the government has shown that it is still trying to use PR tactics to avoid honouring our request to formally commit to removing the problematic aspects of this bill—it is warrantless, costly, and will have detrimental effects on Canadians' privacy rights. Read more »

Moneyville: Bell getting hit with class-action lawsuit

It looks like big telecom company Bell is about to see some punishment for unfair practices around cell phone contracts. Canadians—led by some Ontario lawyers—are launching a $100-million class action lawsuit, arguing that Bell is on the wrong side of Ontario’s Consumer Protection Act. This is an important demonstration of Big Telecom's underhandedness, but it won't stop misleading contract and price-gouging on its own. Tell the government to make structural change, and push for more choice in the cell phone market: http://StopTheSqueeze.ca/

Article from Moneyville:

Bell Mobility and its parent company, BCE Inc. have been served with notice of a $100-million class action lawsuit alleging that expiry dates on its pre-paid wireless services are illegal. Read more »

TPP: The secretive agreement that could criminalize your Internet use

You may already know that Big Media lobbyists are trying to lock down the Internet in Canada through Copyright Bill C-11 and other activities. The Bill includes provisions that would lock users out of their own services and give Big Media giants increased power to shut down websites. The bill is moving to 3rd reading and lobbyists are still hoping to have the power to block websites and disconnect alleged infringers from the Internet.

Big Media lobbyists are also going international; they’re pushing for trade agreements with copyright measures that are far more restrictive than those currently required by existing treaties or legislation in Canada. Read more »

Engadget: Europe takes measures to curb cell phone bill shock

The European community is taking a stand against cell phone bill shock, and putting a cap on data roaming charges. But here in Canada, we still have the industrialized world's highest roaming fees, and generally some of the highest cell phone prices. Should Canada have a cap on Big Telecom price-gouging?

Article by Jon Fingas for Engadget:

European Union countries already had a data roaming cutoff law in place to prevent bill shock after your next Balearic vacation, but the price of the data in question should get much cheaper very soon. Read more »

The Verge: Netherlands passes Internet openness law

This week, the Netherlands passed net neutrality (Internet openness) rules, which will prevent telecom companies from stifling online choice. We’re part of a global pro-Internet community that is, over time, winning the fight for a strong digital future.

Canada also has Internet openness rules, but we just don't have strong enough enforcement powers. The CRTC has, however, gotten better about handling Internet openness complaints over the past year. Keep pushing them.

Article by by Vlad Savov for The Verge:

People in the Netherlands have reason to celebrate today, following the expected passing into law of new net neutrality regulation. The legislation in question was agreed upon back in June last year, but it's only on Tuesday that the nation's second legislative chamber gave its blessing to the move, making everything official. Under the new law, mobile internet providers like KPN won't be able to charge for access to particular services like Skype or throttle traffic through them — both techniques that the company was intent on using to manage its mobile traffic. Read more »