Canada Considering A Three Strikes And You're Off The Internet Policy?

Techdirt is reporting that Canada may be considering a "three strikes" policy which could see users internet access privileges revoked for file sharing violations. "Given how secretive the industry and the government have been about new copyright laws, perhaps this isn't too surprising. We do know that the industry was pushing for greater ISP liability as part of copyright law changes a few months back, so it wouldn't be surprising if ISPs were negotiating a "three strikes" type rule to avoid the liability issues. Of course, they probably want to keep it secret, as publicity (and resulting anger) about these types of laws in Europe has at least some politicians moving away from them. However, as the entertainment industry does keep succeeding in getting these types of laws to move forward, how long will it be before similar laws are proposed in the US, with "everyone else is doing it" as part of the reasoning?"

Comments

Sounds good

[decipher_saint]

I'll just switch to filing my taxes electronically...

Re:Sounds good

[SatanicPuppy]

What about free wifi? That's the real issue. I used to live in an apartment building, and all my neighbors sprung for a business-grade internet connection, and we set it up on wifi and went nuts while all the other poor bastards in the building were stuck with the crap cable connection.

If we'd been banned, we'd have just switched the cable to someone elses name. What are they going to do? Search my house weekly to make sure I don't have a wireless card?

Completely pointless.

First they came for the pirates...

[Anonymous Coward]

Can the government really strip you of your right to speak for breaking a civil statute? Or is copyright infringement without profit motive a criminal offense in Canada as well as the US?

Re:First they came for the pirates...

[Kompressor]

Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms:
...
b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication;

Is it not possible to consider that one "other media of communication" would be communication that occurs online, for example a blog, e-mail, slashdot postings, etc?

As I understand it, denying someone the right to print an article, or to have an article published, would contravene this section of the Charter (discussion about the right for a private party to refuse to publish someone elses article notwithstanding). Thus, I believe that it would be difficult to implement something like this as a law.

Now, I could see an ISP having a list of disenfranchised users, and possibly (although I would be disgusted by it) the ability for ISPs to share the lists of these people between each other. For a similar example that already exists, look at the requirements that many bars in Edmonton and Vancouver have for scanning your drivers license before you are allowed in. This system checks against a shared database that confirms you aren't listed as a "troublemaker" (AKA haven't been blackballed). The logic behind this system might be simple enough to apply to a shared blacklist at ISPs.

sigh....

[Jaysyn]

Dear Everyone,

Please stop voting shills, shysters & despots into power.

Thanks

Absolutely Impossible!

[Doug52392]

This is not possible. From a legal standpoint, if the government goes through the right loopholes to get these laws passed, it's possible, but the consequences it would create would cause nothing but trouble. Almost 50% of the Internet users in Canada would most likely get their first "strike" in just one week because they probably consider anyone using file-sharing "pirates", regardless of the legality of what their downloading. From there, I would predict that about 20% would abide by the warning and stop file-sharing, but 30% would continue regardless of the system until they're eventually taken offline, which would have substantial effects on the economy and e-commerce (not as many people buying things online, for instance).

Re:Considering? Sure. Gonna happen? NOPE.

[PC and Sony Fanboy]

I don't think the blank cd tariff is such a bad thing. It basically legalized file sharing. It has made it possible for us to avoid such draconian laws like the DCMA. Besides, without us canadians, you americans wouldn't get any of your pirated movies (according to the MPAA).

Re:Recipricol Three Strikes

[Sique]

Why not simply have the same rules for companies? Every company that has been found guilty in court of copyright, trademark or patent infringment at least three times is banned from the Internet.

Good bye, Sony BMG! Good bye, Microsoft! Good bye about nearly every larger editor or company!

The internet will be again as we knew it in the pre-1990ies.

Re:The Empire strikes back in the great white Hoth

[PopeRatzo]

As an American who has liked to think of Canada as a somewhat enlightened cousin to the North, the news that their government can be every bit as clueless and corrupt as our own is a little bit disconcerting.

Like Aranykai above, the potential for fleeing over the border if things got much worse down here (say if another GOP administration was elected) seems to have been just another dream that is dying a sad (if clarifying) death.