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Michael Geist@mgeist.bsky.social |
650 followers 185 following 204 posts
Law Professor, Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law, University of Ottawa
www.michaelgeist.ca
Law Bytes Podcast: open.spotify.com/show/5iDUCcDrkzGai0OdTgoucv
mgeist.substack.com
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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The Canadian government’s efforts to regulate big tech sometimes feels like a series of high-stakes poker matches in which the government foolishly bets that readily apparent risks can be ignored. My Globe op-ed piece on the latest gamble: digital services tax
www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/bc5ccfd...
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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Meta has changed its policy on the use of the term Zionism, saying it will remove content where it is used as a proxy for Jewish or Israeli people in hate speech. I raised this issue in my Globe piece on antisemitism this week.
transparency.meta.com/Hate-Speech-...
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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The Jewish community has for months called on our political, academic and community leaders to take a stand against antisemitism. It is now apparent that these actions alone are not enough. We must also ask Canadians to simply believe us.
www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/bc5ccfd...
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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Grateful to The Hub for posting my piece on the escalation of antisemitism in Canada over past 9 months becoming normalized as the shock value from even synagogue attacks wane and silence from the broader community becomes impossible to explain away.
thehub.ca/2024/07/05/m...
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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Court Issues Injunction Against University of Toronto Encampment on Trespass Grounds, Finds “No Doubt That Some of the Speech on the Exterior of the Encampment Rises to the Level of Hate Speech”
www.michaelgeist.ca/2024/07/cour...
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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When Antisemitism Strikes Close to Home: my post on this weekend’s attacks on two Toronto synagogues
www.michaelgeist.ca/2024/07/when...
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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This was my synagogue growing up in Toronto and my parents have been members for decades. This is the reality of being Jewish in Canada in 2024 as too many remain silent or seek to downplay, deny or justify the terrifying rise of antisemitism.
x.com/neveragainli...
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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Government’s Choice for Chief of Human Rights Commission Cited Terrorism as a Rational Strategy With High Rates of Success
www.michaelgeist.ca/2024/06/gove...
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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Ex-Justice Min Lametti on Dattani:
“Any time you mislead or conceal your past in order to advance your career, that’s problematic. And if that impedes your ability to be neutral and to do the job properly, it’s inconceivable you could remain in that role.”
www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/art...
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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Virani’s Failed Human Rights Commission Choice: Why the Dattani Appointment Irreparably Harms both the Commission and Bill C-63
www.michaelgeist.ca/2024/06/vira...
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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Government Appoints New Chief of Canadian Human Rights Commission Who Linked To Articles Comparing Israelis to Nazis, Called for Israel Boycott, and Shared Platform With Banned Organization
www.michaelgeist.ca/2024/06/gove...
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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The @lawbytes.bsky.social Podcast, Episode 207: The State of Digital Law and Policy in Canada as Parliament Breaks for the Summer
www.michaelgeist.ca/2024/06/law-...
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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Must read on Bill C-11:
“Government and the CRTC are pretending the companies paying out those hundreds of millions will simply accept lower profit margins. Unsurprisingly, some firms and industry associations have already warned prices for consumers may rise”
www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/edit...
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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Canadian government releases submissions it received as part of its consultation on copyright and generative AI. Nearly 100 participated including copyright groups, tech companies, and academics. My submission:
www.michaelgeist.ca/2024/01/cana...
All submissions:
ised-isde.canada.ca/site/strateg...
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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As the House of Commons breaks for the summer, my look back at the last 10 months on digital policy. Major bills on privacy, AI, and online harms are barely moving and the other “accomplishments” on Internet streaming and news are mired in controversy.
www.michaelgeist.ca/2024/06/road...
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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The @lawbytes.bsky.social Podcast, Episode 206: James Plotkin and David Fewer on Canada’s Landmark Copyright Ruling on Fair Dealing and Digital Locks
www.michaelgeist.ca/2024/06/law-...
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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Government Court Filing on Bill C-11: “The Act Does Allow For the Regulation of User-Uploaded Programs on Social Media Services”
www.michaelgeist.ca/2024/06/gove...
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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Sour Grapes: Big Media Lobby Wants to Squash the New Collective Responsible For Administering Google’s $100 Million Online News Act Money
www.michaelgeist.ca/2024/06/sour...
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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Really pleased to be interviewed today on The Big Story podcast for a great discussion on the CRTC’s Bill C-11 streaming decision and its implications for Canadian content and consumers.
thebigstorypodcast.ca/2024/06/12/w...
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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Wrote about the importance of academic exchange and the safety concerns of Jewish faculty and students on campus. Signed this letter and would encourage other academics to do so as well.
www.michaelgeist.ca/2024/05/a-po...
www.unitedagainstacademicboycott.com?ref=quillett...
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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The @lawbytes.bsky.social Podcast, Episode 205: Len St-Aubin on What the CRTC’s Internet Streaming Ruling Means For Creators, Competition and Consumer Costs
chtbl.com/track/ED9CFB...
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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THIS:
“Platitudes on social media are worse than useless. They give undeserved cover to politicians unwilling to take concrete steps to protect Jewish-Canadian communities across the country. Jewish-Canadians need the comfort of action, not banalities.”
www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/bc5ccfd...
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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PM Justin Trudeau actively sought out appearance on US tech podcast. After AI funding talk, conversation shifts to social media. There’s an audible sigh when confronted with Bill C-18 failures (says “it’s not a link tax”) and downplays chance of a TikTok ban.
www.nytimes.com/2024/06/07/p...
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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Pay Up and Shut Up: How The CRTC Has Removed Canadians From Broadcast and Internet Policy
www.michaelgeist.ca/2024/06/pay-...
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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CRTC Bill C-11 Ruling “Makes Web Giants Pay” But it is Canadian Consumers That Will Get the Bill
www.michaelgeist.ca/2024/06/crtc...
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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It appears likely Bill S-210 hearings are over before really getting started. After filibusters, just three witnesses and the bill could be reported back to House unamended. My @lawbytes.bsky.social podcast this week on what more hearings might have sounded like.
www.michaelgeist.ca/2024/06/law-...
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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Huge Win for Copyright User Rights in Canada: Federal Court Rules Digital Lock Rules Do Not Trump Fair Dealing
www.michaelgeist.ca/2024/06/huge...
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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This is Who We Are Now: my post on why the shock of Jewish school shootings and months of escalating antisemitism in Canada comes from the silence of neighbours and colleagues and of cowardice from our political and university leaders.
www.michaelgeist.ca/2024/05/this...
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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Curb Your Enthusiasm: Why Bill S-210 Could Mandate CRTC-Backed Age Verification For Streaming Services Like Netflix, Crave and CBC Gem
www.michaelgeist.ca/2024/05/curb...
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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The Behind-the-Scenes Bill C-18 Battle: How Newspapers, Big Broadcasters and the CBC Are Trying to Seize Control Over How Google Money is Allocated to Canadian Media
www.michaelgeist.ca/2024/05/the-...
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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Why Months of Jewish Discrimination and the Normalization of Antisemitism on University Campuses Must Stop
www.michaelgeist.ca/2024/05/norm...
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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Filibuster of Bill S-210 Confirmed: Conservative MPs Put Privacy and Free Speech Online At Risk Over Release of Report
www.michaelgeist.ca/2024/05/fili...
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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Another CPC filibuster at committee today. Canada is sleepwalking toward legislation without hearing from any witnesses that includes CRTC oversight of age verification for search and social media, website blocking, and use of facial scanning. #BillS210
x.com/mgeist/statu...
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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It was totally predictable (and predicted) but hard to overstate the disastrous embarrassment of Canada’s digital policy. Bill C-11 will take years to implement and is already facing trade and court challenges, while Bill C-18 has harmed the very news outlets it intended to help.
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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Privacy invasive mandated age verification for search and social media, website blocking and more CRTC regulation is closer to becoming law than you think in Canada. My post on why a CPC committee filibuster threatens to pass Bill S-210 without expert review.
www.michaelgeist.ca/2024/05/s210...
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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A Post I Never Thought I Would Need to Write: Jewish Students Have the Right to Feel Safe on Campus
www.michaelgeist.ca/2024/05/a-po...
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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The government and Bill C-11 supporters created a fake panic about future of Canadian content and film/TV production. The data again tells the reality: there has never been more Cancon and more TV/film production in Canada. All-time highs without new laws.
cmpa.ca/wp-content/u...
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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Have Canada’s wireless prices really dropped in half? How do we rank when compared to others? Rotman professor David Soberman joins the @lawbytes.bsky.social podcast this week to discuss what the data says and explain why wireless competition remains a problem.
www.michaelgeist.ca/2024/05/law-...
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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As this Yom Hashoah begins, I’m thinking of my grandparents. They survived the camps though most of their families did not. Canada offered a chance at a new life, yet today I see once unimaginable antisemitism on our campuses and streets that is excused, dismissed or ignored by far too many.
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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This week I’m hosting students from Israel and Italy in my annual global tech law course. Grateful to Senator Leo Housakos for his Senate welcome and greeting with this message: some students may face backlash at certain universities, but they are welcome in Senate of Canada.
x.com/SenatorHousa...
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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Four Ontario school boards are seeking billions in compensation from social media companies as a U.S. legal strategy comes to Canada. What are the actual legal claims and their likelihood of success? Robert Diab joins the @lawbytes.bsky.social podcast to discuss.
www.michaelgeist.ca/2024/04/law-...
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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It was a fun coffee leading to a fun article covering all matters on digital policy in Canada.
www.canadianaffairs.news/2024/04/24/p...
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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What a painful weekend: Jewish students warned it is no longer safe at Columbia University (my alma mater), Ottawa protests celebrating Hamas and the October 7th massacre, my Twitter mentions including a call for Jews to die, and too many still excusing it or remaining silent.
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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Debating the Online Harms Act: Insights from Two Recent Panels on Bill C-63. Video now available from yesterday’s CIJA Town Hall and last week’s University of Ottawa panel, which both provide a good discussion on the controversial bill.
www.michaelgeist.ca/2024/04/deba...
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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Online Harms Act is 3 bills in 1: platform regs, Human Rights Act, and Criminal Code reforms. This week’s @lawbytes.bsky.social podcast features Boris Bytensky on the controversial criminal law part of Bill C-63, including life in prison for hate motivated crimes
www.michaelgeist.ca/2024/04/law-...
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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AI Spending is Not an AI Strategy: Why the Government’s Artificial Intelligence Plan Avoids the Hard Governance Questions
www.michaelgeist.ca/2024/04/ai-s...
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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The lawbytes.bsky.social Podcast, Episode 198: Richard Moon on the Return of the Section 13 Hate Speech Provision in the Online Harms Act
www.michaelgeist.ca/2024/04/law-...
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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Secret government content removal requests fuel concerns about abuse of Internet content regulation. The Meta 2019 transparency report just references private reports of defamation and a government disclosure only went back to 2020.
www.michaelgeist.ca/2023/04/gove...
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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Happy to appear in this *excellent* podcast on the Online Harms Act, which unpacks both the good and bad in Bill C-63. Most discouraging: Justice Minister Arif Virani frequently rejecting “premise of questions” and his non-answers on fixing the bill. Not promising.
www.thestar.com/podcasts/its...
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Michael Geist
@mgeist.bsky.social
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Tweets Are Not Enough: Why Combatting Relentless Antisemitism in Canada Requires Real Leadership and Action
www.michaelgeist.ca/2024/03/twee...
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