Colin Bennett

I didn’t see it get much/any attention, but the Canadian government has launched a consultation on a potential Canada-EU Digital Trade Agreement. Could cover everything from IP to AI to privacy rules. Submission deadline is August 23rd.
international.canada.ca/en/global-af...

Another terrific explainer from @mgeist.bsky.social This time on the "new" age verification and website blocking bill introduced in Senate.

Delighted to be speaking at #CPDP2025 on data protection certification.

During a speaking engagement today at the @uvic.ca
Centre for Global Studies, Commissioner Michael Harvey shared his view that taking a rights approach to transparency and privacy helps build trust in political institutions.
@colinjbennett.bsky.social

CFGS Global Talk - Taking a Rights Approach to Transparency and Accountability Global Talks are weekly discussions/presentations where we are able to listen to presentations from researchers within CFGS, the university more br...

BC Information and Privacy Commissioner, Michael Harvey is speaking at UVIC next week on "Taking a Rights Approach to Transparency and Accountability." @oipcbc.bsky.social Details here.
events.uvic.ca/global/event...

Excellent analysis here from @iclmg-csilc.bsky.social

The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 231: Sara Bannerman on How Canadian Political Parties Maximize Voter Data Collection and Minimize Privacy Safeguards - Michael Geist As the 2025 federal election passes the midway point, it is increasingly apparent that the federal political parties are not only battling for votes, but also for data. Canadians may not see it but po...

The @lawbytes.bsky.social Podcast, Episode 231: Sara Bannerman on How Canadian Political Parties Maximize Voter Data Collection and Minimize Privacy Safeguards
www.michaelgeist.ca/2025/04/law-...

This is important. Although this is supposed to be an "existiential election", microtargeting to key demographics is still live and well!

And here's all the party spending on Meta over the last month. trends.whotargets.me/dashboard/co...

Last month, Liberals in Victoria @liberalsinvictoria.bsky.social hosted 250 people to discuss "Saving the CBC". The CBC is a cherished source of local and regional news and a champion of Canadian arts and culture. A Carney Liberal government will protect and strengthen the CBC, not defund it.

Trump’s new tariff math looks a lot like an AI chatbot recommendation. So we decided to ask ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok and Claude. Read more here: bit.ly/4ldxJ77

Victoria Liberal candidate brings a global approach to the campaign trail Will Greaves has taught about international relations, Canadian foreign policy and Arctic politics at the University of Victoria

Want to learn more about the Liberal candidate for Victoria (me!)? Now is the right time to elect someone with experience to help Canada face current global challenges: a tariff war with the US, defending Arctic sovereignty, and taking climate action.

www.oakbaynews.com/local-news/v...

New month, new seminar! This month with none other than @rondeibert.bsky.social on his new book Chasing Shadows: Cyber Espionage, Subversion, and the Global Fight for Democracy!

Join us on Tue 15 April, 16:00 (CET), on Zoom: www.thehagueprogram.nl/events/chasi...

@fggaleiden.bsky.social

Whotargets.me is doing some terrific work monitoring Meta ad spending in 2025 Canadian election. Is digital campaigning and micro-targeting going to be effective in this "existential election"? We'll see.

Now isn’t the time for backing down, but notable that the U.S. now cites all of Canada’s core digital policies as foreign trade barriers. 2025 report references digital services tax, online streaming rules, and now the Online News Act. Friction isn’t going away.
ustr.gov/sites/defaul...

Hey everyone, if you live in Victoria, BC, get out your phone and call his office to volunteer.

We have an uphill battle here folks, and every one of us needs to be up off our asses to contribute!!

A Letter From Palestinian Activist Mahmoud Khalil | ACLU Khalil, who was unlawfully arrested in retaliation for his advocacy, details this violation of his free speech rights.

If the government is allowed to detain a lawful permanent resident like Mahmoud Khalil for his advocacy in support of Palestinian rights, all of our free speech rights are at risk.

Read Mahmoud's message to the country, in his own words.

Data is 'sticky,' there's way too much, and we don't control it, warns political scientist | CBC Radio In this digital age, we must think of ourselves as stakeholders, playing a vital role in the creation of data, says Wendy H. Wong. She is a political scientist and winner of the 2024 Balsillie Prize…

In "We, the Data," political scientist @profwhw.bsky.social argues for a human rights framework to reassert our personhood, autonomy, and dignity in the face of datafication. She joined CBC Radio's IDEAS to explain what it means to be "datafied":

How the hell can Hungary still be a credible member of the EU?

In-Person Victoria KnowledgeNet: 25 March 2025 This event will be held in person with no virtual component or recording. If registration is closed or you have any questions, please email knowledgenet@iapp.org.Topic:Global Privacy Protection: Adequ...

Very happy to be leading this KnowledgeNet discussion in Victoria on March 25th on "Global Privacy Protection." Registration here.

iapp.org/connect/comm...

Virtue or Vice? A First Look at Paragon’s Proliferating Spyware Operations - The Citizen Lab In our first investigation into Israel-based spyware company, Paragon Solutions, we begin to untangle multiple threads connected to the proliferation of Paragon's mercenary spyware operations across t...

NEW @citizenlab.ca report:

Virtue or Vice? A First Look at Paragon’s Proliferating Spyware Operations

citizenlab.ca/2025/03/a-fi...

Very happy to contribute to this important discussion organized by @bcfipa.bsky.social

Digital Health ID as a Privacy Workaround? The Problem(s) with Ontario’s Bill 231 Ontario plans to introduce digital identity services (Digital ID) to provide Ontarians with better access to their personal health information (PHI) in the provincial Electronic Health Record (EHR).

Digital Health ID as a Privacy Workaround? The Problem(s) with Ontario’s Bill 231

This is interesting .... "Government of Canada launches consultation to implement international data protection and privacy certifications to enable trusted cross-border data flows globally"

www.canada.ca/en/innovatio...

Welcome to the OIPC BC on Bluesky!

Social Media Policy: www.oipc.bc.ca/social-media...

Please note: We do not accept access or privacy complaints or requests for review via this page.

Visit oipc.bc.ca to learn more about how to submit complaints and requests for review.

OIPC Legal Counsel Ethan Plato will join fellow panelists for a discussion on Wed. March 12 at #VIPSSummit on The Collapse of Canadian Privacy Law Reform. #privacy

I wonder what Justice Anthony Kennedy, the author of the ruinous Citizens United decision must be thinking now?

As someone who was born in the UK, has lived and been educated in the US and who has made Canada his home for nearly 40 years, I have no doubt that Canada is the superior country. Not even close!

But Americans don't speak English. I don't understand????

Gov. Shapiro not pulling any punches