A Critical Time | Weekly News Update from OpenMedia.ca

Hello!

Here's Lindsey with your update:

It's clear that Canadians pay too much for Internet use, but Big Telecom and industry lobbyists continue to push for higher prices. During week two of our December Allies Drive, we're asking that you support OpenMedia as we amplify your voices and push for a more open and affordable Internet. Please consider becoming an Ally today.   

For the (affordable) Internet,   

- The OpenMedia.ca Team

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Recent News

Guilty by accusation: Overzealous copyright lawyers target Canadians

The Internet is ablaze with fury at the news that a content company – Voltage Pictures – is requesting the private information of thousands of Canadian Internet users, who it claims violated its copyright. Crackdowns on alleged infringement are sweeping the nation, as ISPs are being pressured to give private companies the personal information of their accused customers.

This “guilty by accusation” approach to copyright enforcement is bad for free expression, and it adds new costs for Internet service providers, which will certainly be reflected on our monthly bills. Do you want to pay for a copyright witch hunt?

As the definition of infringement expands, and everyday uses of the Internet increasingly include sharing images, videos, and more, anyone could be considered a potential infringer. If you or someone using your Internet connection—even someone accessing your wireless connection without your knowledge—clicked on a link to something covered by copyright, should your information be passed along? What if the accusation is wrong? Read more »

 

Why I support OpenMedia: Christina's story

We asked our community to share stories about why they support our work as part of our yearly December Allies Drive. Christina Bub of Ontario had this to say:

"OpenMedia does all the leg-work – they tear down the hurdle that prevents people from taking action, so their campaigns reflect the true number of like-minded people who care about the open Internet."

Help us continue to work for you by making a contribution to OpenMedia at OpenMedia.ca/Allies and read more of Christina's story here. Read more »

 

Michael Geist: Secrecy the standard at Trans-Pacific Partnership talks

Another round of talks has concluded on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a secretive trade agreement that could criminalize everyday Internet use, confiscate online data and give more power to corporate lobbyists. With Canada having joined the TPP as a 'second-tier' status member, it's clear that our government has little to gain but Canadians have much to lose.

Join us in speaking out against the TPP's Internet trap at StopTheTrap.net. We're working hard to amplify Canadians' voices, but we need your help to continue. Please consider making a contribution to OpenMedia.ca at OpenMedia.ca/Allies and let's move forward together.

Article by Michael Geist

Despite growing opposition in Canada, Ottawa has begun formal participation in the Trans Pacific Partnership negotiations, aimed at establishing one of the world’s most ambitious trade agreements.

As nearly a dozen countries — including the United States, Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Mexico and Vietnam — gathered in New Zealand last week for the 14th round of talks, skeptics here have already expressed doubts about the benefits of the proposed deal.

Canada has free-trade agreements with the United States, Mexico, Chile and Peru, leaving just six countries — currently representing less than 1 per cent of Canadian exports — as the net gain. Read more »

 

Huffington Post: TekSavvy warns Canadians it has received requests for personal info

Independent Internet Service Provider TekSavvy has announced that an American film studio is demanding personal information of its Canadian customers – a motion that follows recent changes to Canadian copyright law.

In response, TekSavvy is taking a stance that aims to protect Canadian privacy – stating that it will not provide personal information without a court order.

Help encourage this protection of Canadians' privacy in making the switch to an independent ISP at OpenMedia.ca/Switch. Join us in becoming a monthly contributor to OpenMedia at OpenMedia.ca/Allies.

Article by Daniel Tencer for Huffington Post

An independent internet service provider popular with tech geeks in central Canada is warning that it has been asked to hand over personal information about customers in advance of a potential file-sharing lawsuit, and it’s telling its customers they may want to lawyer up.

Chatham, Ont.-based TekSavvy says it has received a request from Hollywood production company Voltage Pictures to identify the people behind 2,000 IP addresses which the company presumably suspects of unauthorized file-sharing. Read more »

 

I'm sharing my story with you

We asked supporters to share stories about why they support our work for our special December Allies Drive – our yearly drive for monthly donors. This story, from Christina Bub of Ontario, was one of our favourites:

An open and free internet is a clear path to a wonderful future full of potential we may not even be aware of today. I run a small hobby business, and without ever having a shop or even a single printed piece of marketing material, I've been able to sell my product all over the world.

OpenMedia has been the most intelligently organised movement that I have seen. When I support OpenMedia with my regular contribution, I feel less like I'm donating to a cause, and more like I'm paying OpenMedia to work for me. They're doing a job, they do it well, and I always feel like I got what I paid for with my donation...and then some! Read more »

 

How Canada's online costs stack up worldwide

It’s no secret that when it comes to the Internet, Canadians pay higher prices for worse services than most countries in the industrialized world. This is largely because a handful of Big Telecom companies control upwards of 94% of the Internet service market in Canada, meaning that Canadians don’t have much real choice.

Big Telecom's grip on Canadian communications needs to come to an end, and our policy-makers need to set the stage for real choice. Read and share our Action Plan for an open and affordable Internet at OpenMedia.ca/Plan.

Help us continue to amplify Canadians’ voices by joining us as a monthly donor at OpenMedia.ca/Allies. Special thanks to Juljka for creating this infographic for us! View the full version by clicking on the image below. Read more »

 

NZ Herald: Copyright clampdown of the TPP

A secretive trade agreement known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is again being negotiated this week in closed-door discussions – seeking to introduce invasive copyright legislation to everyday Internet use.

Let the lobbyists and bureaucrats behind the TPP know that citizens worldwide rightfully deserve a seat at the table. Learn more about what's hidden within the TPP and speak out at StopTheTrap.net.

Article by Geoff Cumming for The New Zealand Herald

If you think opponents of the Trans Pacific Partnership are typically anti-free trade/anti-globalisation conspiracy theorists, consider these unlikely bedfellows: librarians, software exporters, researchers, book lovers, fans of DVDs, media creatives and people who download music. The negotiations for a trade deal covering 11 Pacific nations have managed to unite these apparently unconnected sectors in alarm. Most likely, they include you and me - everything and everyone is connected in the digital age.

The United States' wish list for the agreement includes a tighter regulatory regime for intellectual property (chiefly copyright and patent laws), which interest groups say could tie them - and us - in a dense legal web, affecting everything from our use of the internet and access to music, books and films to the fast-growing software development sector. Read more »

 

Bell raises prices, Telus furthers usage limits: Big Telecom is hurting the Internet

This week, Canadians learned that big telecom company Telus will be further limiting how much its customers can use the Internet. Soon after, we learned that big telecom company Bell will be jacking up their prices for Internet. After fighting for Internet openness and affordability for years, the pro-Internet community knows: this is price-gouging, pure and simple.

It’s no secret that when it comes to the Internet, Canadians pay higher prices for worse services than people in most countries in the industrialized world. This is largely because a small handful of Big Telecom companies control upwards of 94% of the Internet service market in Canada, meaning that Canadians don’t have much real choice. Read more »

 

RT News: Global UN summit votes to support Internet eavesdropping

At the ongoing International Telecommunications Union discussions, a top-secret proposal called 'Deep Packet Inspection' – or DPI for short – has been approved.

This DPI standard has been adopted despite criticism that it could accelerate censorship in repressive nations and allow for online eavesdropping on a global scale.

We need to speak out to ensure that these new standards aren't used to legitimize Internet surveillance and censorship online. Join us in adding your name to our campaign to ProtectInternetFreedom.net.

Article by Emmanuel Dunand for RT News

Members of the United Nation’s International Telecommunications Union (ITU) have agreed to work towards implementing a standard for the Internet that would allow for eavesdropping on a worldwide scale.

At a conference in Dubai this week, the ITU members decided to adopt the Y.2770 standard for deep packet inspection, a top-secret proposal by way of China that will allow telecom companies across the world to more easily dig through data passed across the Web. Read more »

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