Skyway Recommended December 9th to 15th

This week: PEN Canada says Internet Filtering threatens Freedom of Expression; CRTC: are Roaming Rates Just?; NSA Using Google Tracking Cookies; Canadian Privacy Laws Filled with Loopholes; Ready for BYOD?

Each Monday we’ll pass on links to articles we thought were well worth reading from the previous week, for those who live where we do (British Columbia, Canada), work like we do (high speed business internet), and think about things we do (internet trends, internet privacy, internet censorship, cutting-edge technology, etc.). If you don’t want to wait ’til Monday, we usually tweet and link to these as we come across them

Northumberland Review | PEN Canada says MP Joy Smith’s Internet filtering proposal threatens freedom of expression

PEN Canada expressed concern that Winnipeg MP Joy Smith’s private member’s bill would unreasonably limit access to the Internet, creating a new threat to freedom of expression inCanada.  The bill would require Canadians who wish to opt out of system-wide filtering for material deemed to be pornographic to register this preference with their Internet Service Provider (ISP). Read More…

CRTC | CRTC asking if Wholesale Cellular Roaming rates are Just and Non-discriminatory

Following a fact-finding exercise to assess the impact of wholesale mobile wireless roaming arrangements on the competitiveness of the Canadian wireless industry, the Commission hereby initiates a proceeding to consider whether or not, as a question of fact, there is a situation of unjust discrimination or undue preference with respect to these arrangements in Canada. In addition, the Commission intends to initiate a separate proceeding in early 2014 to further examine matters related to the wholesale mobile wireless roaming market in Canada. Read More…

The Wire | The NSA Uses Google’s Tracking Cookies to Find Targets

The National Security Agency analyzes tracking cookies used by online advertisers in order to find and target surveillance subjects, according to The Washington Post and documents provided by Edward Snowden. Based on internal slide decks, “when companies follow consumers on the Internet to better serve them advertising, the technique opens the door for similar tracking by the government.” Read More…

IT World Canada | Canadian privacy laws filled with loopholes: Expert

Privacy law expert David Fraser explains how Canadian laws allow U.S. boarder inspectors access to your sensitive health information.

Amanda Box and her boyfriend were looking forward to a relaxing weekend in his home in Colorado, instead they ended up shocked and humiliated at the U.S. Customs counter in Toronto’ Pearson International Airport. The U.S. Customs agent at the counter denied Box entry to the states on the grounds that she was a “flight risks” because her computer records showed an entry for “mental health issues.” Read More…

Privacy by Design | Is Your Organization Ready for BYOD?

More than 27 million Canadians use mobile computing devices such as laptops, smartphones and tablets and that number continues to grow. Consequently, Canadian employers are confronted with the workplace challenge of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD). This phenomenon poses new challenges to data security, effective corporate oversight, and employee privacy. To provide guidance on organizational mobile development strategies, Dr. Ann Cavoukian, along with TELUS, explore the options for workplaces in a new white paper, Bring Your Own Device: Is Your Organization Ready?