Open Letter to Facebook: Don't Launch "Messenger Kids" in Canada

OTTAWA – The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) today published an open letter to Facebook urging the social media giant not to launch the “Facebook Messenger Kids” app in Canada.  PIAC’s letter points to the collection and retention of young users’ actual communications by Facebook, without a clear rationale, something that PIAC claims may, along with other flaws, violate Canadian privacy laws.
“This is not a toy,” said John Lawford, Executive Director and General Counsel of PIAC. “It is a sophisticated social networking tool with significantly intrusive data collection – and it’s intended for kids – who cannot even consent to it themselves.” The letter raises a number of concerns that Facebook Messenger Kids, as presently structured, may violate Canadian privacy laws.
“We are asking Facebook not to launch Messenger Kids in Canada until they are sure it respects Canadian privacy laws and the privacy of Canadian parents and children,” added Lawford. “As it works now, we cannot see how it can operate and do both.”
For more information, please contact:
John Lawford
Executive Director & General Counsel
Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC)
office: (613) 562-4002 ×25
Cell: (613) 447-8125
lawford@piac.ca
www.piac.ca
 
 
 
 

Government Internet Affordability Program Helps Some, Ignores Others

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TORONTO – The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) today reacted to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains’ “Connecting Families” agreement with industry to provide affordable Internet access for low-income families with some hope and much concern.
“Today’s announcement of a voluntary $10 Internet service from major Internet companies for low-income families is helpful for those Canadians and welcome,” noted John Lawford, PIAC’s Executive Director and General Counsel. “However, there are hundreds of thousands of Canadians without children who desperately need affordable broadband internet who are left out of this program for no clear reason, other than cost,” he added.
The participating Internet service providers (ISPs), including Bell Canada, TELUS, Rogers, Shaw, Cogeco, Videotron and Sasktel, have publicly committed to continuing the service until 2022. However, there is no regulatory requirement to do so and no guarantee service will be extended to Canadians without children under 18, nor that any other ISPs will participate.
“This is half a loaf offered to only some low-income Canadians and not to others. While better than nothing, this ‘political solution’ is the direct result of the CRTC refusing to create a fair and equitable subsidy to support affordable Internet for all low-income Canadians,” stated Lawford.
PIAC, along with ACORN Canada and the National Pensioners Federation previously asked the CRTC to reconsider a low-income Internet affordability subsidy but the CRTC recently denied their request.
For more information, please contact:
John Lawford
Executive Director and General Counsel
Public Interest Advocacy Centre
(c) 1-613-447-8125
jlawford@piac.ca

PIAC and NPF File Application Regarding Paper Billing

PIAC-NPF – Part 1 App – Paper Billing by Koodo Mobile FINAL

The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) and National Pensioners Federation (NPF) have filed the above application with the CRTC regarding paper billing by Koodo Mobile. According to complaints received by PIAC-NPF from consumers and those posted in online forums, Koodo Mobile has discontinued paper billing.

This application asks the Commission to clarify that wireless service providers must offer paper billing upon request at no charge by virtue of the agreement on paper billing negotiated on 28 August 2014, by virtue of s 27.2 of the Telecommunications Act, or by virtue of s. A.1.(i) of the Revised Wireless Code. In the alternative, PIAC-NPF requests that the Commission impose a condition of service under s 24 of the Telecommunications Act on all telecommunications service providers requiring them to offer paper billing upon request.

We are concerned about the negative effects electronic-only billing will have on vulnerable and low-income consumers. This includes persons with disabilities, senior citizens, consumers living paycheque to paycheque and those who do not have the resources to take advantage of e-billing. According to the 2017 CRTC Communications Monitoring Report, only 64.4% of households in the bottom income quintile and 82.1% of households in the second income quintile use home internet and slightly fewer have home computers. Only 54% of senior women and 59% of senior men have used the internet in the last 12 months. These consumers are profoundly disadvantaged when their carrier discontinues paper billing, or informs the customer after purchase that paper billing is not available, or by having their choice of service provider limited to premium brands which still offer paper billing.