Nymity, P2p & Isps: Lessons from Bmg Canada Inc. V. John Doe

PRIVACY AND TECHNOLOGIES OF IDENTITY: A CROSS-DISCIPLINARY CONVERSATION, Katherine J. Strandburg, Daniela Stan Raicu, eds., New York: Springer, 2005

24 Pages Posted: 21 May 2005

See all articles by Ian R. Kerr

Ian R. Kerr

University of Ottawa - Common Law Section

Alex Cameron

University of Ottawa

Abstract

This chapter provides an exploration of the reasons why a Canadian Federal Court refused to compel five Internet service providers to disclose the identities of twenty nine ISP subscribers alleged to have been engaged in P2P file-sharing. The authors argue that there are important lessons to be learned from the decision, particularly in the area of online privacy, including the possibility that the decision may lead to powerful though unintended consequences. At the intersection of digital copyright enforcement and privacy, the Court's decision could have the ironic effect of encouraging more powerful private-sector surveillance of our online activities, which would likely result in a technological backlash by some to ensure that Internet users have even more impenetrable anonymous places to roam. Consequently, the authors encourage the Court to further develop its analysis of how, when and why the compelled disclosure of identity by third party intermediaries should be ordered by including as an element in the analysis a broader-based public interest in privacy.

Keywords: privacy, anonymity, compelled disclosure of identity, internet service providers, peer-to-peer, copyright, cybercrime

Suggested Citation

Kerr, Ian R. and Cameron, Alex, Nymity, P2p & Isps: Lessons from Bmg Canada Inc. V. John Doe. PRIVACY AND TECHNOLOGIES OF IDENTITY: A CROSS-DISCIPLINARY CONVERSATION, Katherine J. Strandburg, Daniela Stan Raicu, eds., New York: Springer, 2005, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=726764

Ian R. Kerr (Contact Author)

University of Ottawa - Common Law Section ( email )

57 Louis Pasteur Street
Ottawa, K1N 6N5
Canada
613-562-5800 (Phone)

Alex Cameron

University of Ottawa ( email )

57 Louis Pasteur Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5 K1N 6N5
Canada

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