News

Proposed class action lawsuit involving global web of affiliated defendants dismissed.

In Shirodkar v. Coinbase Global, Inc., the appellant was hoping to pursue a class action lawsuit on Ontario against a crypto asset trading platform comprising Coinbase Global, Inc. and its subsidiaries Coinbase Inc., Coinbase Canada Inc., and Coinbase Europe Limited. The court below had dismissed the case on jurisdictional grounds, and the appellant sought to have that reversed before the Ontario Court of Appeal.

For more details, please click here.

Ontario privacy regulator faults university for not discovering biometrics in vending machines.

The Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (IPC) recently released a privacy complaint report that raises some interesting questions about privacy due diligence in procurement. In the report, the IPC faulted a university for a vendor’s deployment of technologies that the university was not aware of and arguably would not have expected.

For more details, please click here.

BC Civil Resolution Tribunal rejects X’s argument that Canada-only takedown sufficient (but censures complainant for using AI.

In Re X Corp., 2025 BCCRT 1228, vice-chair Eric Regehr of the British Columbia Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT) imposed a $100,000 administrative monetary penalty on X (formerly Twitter), which the Tribunal noted was the first one ever imposed on an internet intermediary. In a decision from March 2025, the CRT had issued a protection order under the BC Intimate Images Act, which had ordered X and other internet intermediaries to remove an intimate image of the (anonymous) complainant from its platform, delete or destroy the image, and de-index the image from any search engine. The complainant continued to monitor the platform for postings of the image, particularly one account that persistently re-posts it, and informed X of instances of this. X responded by indicating that it had geo-fenced the image in Canada, i.e., ensured that the image could not be accessed from Canada. The complainant then began this proceeding arguing that X had not complied with the order.

For more details, please click here.

Recent cases involve termination and professional discipline

Psychologists and other experts have been pointing out, for some time, that there is sometimes a disconnect between people’s online behaviour and their awareness or appreciation of potential consequences. This can be compounded by blurring of personal and employment/professional conduct and contexts—and all of it can come home to roost on social media, where there is great potential for misbehaviour that has consequences. The media, case law and relevant publications (including this newsletter) are full of examples, and they just keep coming.

For more details, please click here.

We are very pleased to announce Cecilia Barnes as the winner of the 2025 CAN-TECH Rising Star in Tech Law Award.

Cecilia Barnes is Counsel at Lawson Lundell LLP, where she advises a broad range of domestic and international technology clients on commercial transactions, intellectual property, privacy, and data security. Cecilia brings a unique blend of in-house experience and entrepreneurial insight to her work in private practice, having served as lead commercial counsel at high-growth companies and supported major milestones such as a $950M IPO. She is known for her practical, business-oriented legal advice and her ability to bridge law, technology, and innovation.

Cecilia was recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Canada 2025, a testament to her excellence and rising influence in the legal profession.

Beyond her legal practice, Cecilia is a passionate advocate for access to justice and inclusive innovation. She has led initiatives to expand legal support for underserved communities, including securing funding for BC’s first Black legal clinic and developing mobile legal tools to improve access to legal information across the province. A recognized thought leader, mentor, and educator, Cecilia contributes to the advancement of the tech law bar through teaching, speaking, and strategic partnerships. Her work bridges law, technology, and community – making her a true rising star in the field.

We are pleased to announce that the 2025 CAN-TECH Law Award of Distinction winner is Cory Freed!

Cory Freed is Assistant General Counsel and Head of Legal Affairs for Microsoft in Canada. Cory joined Microsoft in 2005 and now leads the team of legal professionals who provide comprehensive legal support to the business in Canada. Cory and the team also advise Microsoft Canada’s Public Sector sales and services organization.

In this role, Cory oversees the drafting and negotiation of agreements related to artificial intelligence, cloud computing, on-premises licensing, and consulting services for Microsoft Canada’s largest public sector customers. Cory acts as a strategic advisor on a range of legal issues to the Canadian business, including privacy, compliance, and regulatory matters.

Prior to joining Microsoft, Cory was an Associate in the technology law group at Osler LLP, a leading Toronto law firm. Cory previously served on the board of directors of CAN TECH, the national forum for Canadian legal practitioners specializing in technology law.

Your Discounted Business Law Fall Meeting Registration, Toronto | September 18-20

The Canadian Technology Law Association is pleased to partner with the American Bar Association’s Business Law Fall Meeting in Toronto and online, September 18-20. The three-day experience features 50+ CLE programs on all areas of business law, committee and subcommittee meetings providing substantive discussions of emerging trends, and social events. Members may register* at the discounted ABA rate to connect with other leaders in the legal profession—including well-known experts in business law fields, corporate counsel, private practitioners at various size firms—at substantive meetings and social events.

To register, visit LINK for more information about the meeting. To redeem your discounted ABA member rate, select your preferred format on the ABA Business Law Section website,

• “In-Person” at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel or
• “Virtual” for online access.
• Follow prompts on each page and then select “Non-Member Rate” as opposed to single CLE, until you’re prompted to enter your “discount code.”

• Based on your meeting format, enter the in-person or virtual code below, which will apply the ABA member registration rate.
• Member ABA registration rate discount code to enter:
• • In Person: MEMBERS ACCESS YOUR CODE HERE
  • Virtual: MEMBERS ACCESS YOUR CODE HERE

Once registered, you’ll receive a confirmation email from Quiana Nesbit.

Deadline to submit is August 22, 2025

The Canadian Technology Law Association (CAN-TECH) invites nominations for two esteemed awards:

1. Award of Distinction, recognizing members with a minimum of twenty (20) years of practice.
2. Rising Star in Tech Law Award, honoring early-career members within their first ten (10) years of practice.

Both awards celebrate extraordinary contributions in leadership, innovation, integrity, and commitment to the Technology Law Bar.

ELIGIBILITY:

Current CAN-TECH member in good standing (excluding Executive and Board of Directors).

NOMINATION PROCESS:

• Submission: Nominations to be made online by August 22, 2025, including a written document (max. 2 pages double-spaced) and the candidate's curriculum vitae.
• Consent: The candidate must be advised of the nomination and consent to it.
• Promotion: Solicitation through email, social media, CAN-TECH newsletter, and the awards page on the CAN-TECH website.

SELECTION PROCESS:

Selected by the Nomination Subcommittee, considering CAN-TECH guidelines on Diversity and Inclusion.

Only one award will be presented for each category.

PRESENTATION:

To be presented at a CAN-TECH Law event.

DEADLINE:

Online submissions must be filed by August 22, 2025.

Nominations from across Canada are encouraged. For additional details, see our award outline documents below:

• Rising Star Award
• Award of Distinction

SUBMIT FOR AWARD OF DISTINCTION

SUBMIT FOR RISING STAR

It’s just getting worse

This newsletter, as with most legal media of late, has previously reported on cases where AI was put to impermissible use by lawyers in both Canada and the US. To use a colloquial phrase, they are starting to come thick and fast. In R. v. Chand, 2025 ONCJ 282, Justice Kenkel was presiding over an aggravated assault trial and, when evidence had concluded and final submissions made by counsel, issued a “Direction Re: Defence Final Submissions.” 

For more details, please click here.

Strong Borders Act will give law enforcement expanded access to customer information and backdoors to electronic service providers.

On June 3, the new Canadian government tabled Bill C-2 in Parliament, called “An Act respecting certain measures relating to the security of the border between Canada and the United States and respecting other related security measures” but with a short title of “Strong Borders Act”.

For more details, please click here.