The Lawyer's Daily

CCLA raises concerns over breadth of police access to information under new Act

Brenda McPhail, director of the CCLA’s Privacy, Technology and Surveillance Project, said there shouldn’t be secondary use of the information collected under the Missing Persons Act and ‘it should never be used against the individual in any subsequent criminal investigation.’

Tuesday, July 23, 2019 @ 9:33 AM

To assist in the search of a missing person, Ontario’s recently proclaimed Missing Persons Act provides the police with “additional tools,” including the ability to make an “urgent demand for certain records without a court order.” While the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) notes that the legislation includes “important” safeguards for privacy protection, it is concerned about the amount of information available to police. ... [read more]

Nothing inventive in using well-known technology to mimic humans, says court in patent case Jenna Wilson, Wilson Lue LLP

Tuesday, July 23, 2019 @ 12:20 PM

The Federal Court of Appeal has overturned a patent on software related to inspection of railroad tracks, with a lawyer involved in the case saying he believes it is the first time in many years the court has declared a patent invalid on obviousness after it had previously been declared valid. ... [read more]

Complainants’ stories of intimate image sharing could inform courts, lawyer says

Monday, July 22, 2019 @ 12:19 PM

A Toronto lawyer is hoping victims’ stories of having intimate images shared online can be used as supplemental evidence in criminal and civil cases. These stories would come from newly emerging support groups for people who have suffered harm after such images were posted online without their consent. ... [read more]