New York court rules that privilege lost when information typed into AI platform

In United States v. Heppner, the accused was advised by lawyers on his fraud charges, but also tried to formulate legal strategy on his own (explicitly not at the direction or suggestion of his lawyers).

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UK court eviscerates credibility of witness due to “coaching” via smart glasses

The British case of UAB and Jakstys v. Oneta Limited et al. provides an instructive illustration of how trial witnesses may try to use technology to improperly aid or affect their testimony, and how this affects the court’s assessment of witness credibility in such a situation.

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Forcible compulsion of fingerprint or facial scan would breach principle against self-incrimination and right to silence

In Re Application for Biometrics Scanning as part of a General Warrant, Justice Trevor A. Brown of the Ontario Court of Justice heard an application for a Search Warrant, General Warrant and a Sealing Order in an ongoing investigation.

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The report highlights the risks of launching AI products without adequate safeguards against misuse and abuse

On June 11, 2026, the Privacy Commissioner of Canada released PIPEDA Findings #2026-004 concerning the artificial intelligence image-generation tool associated with the Grok chatbot, operated by X Corp. and developed by xAI.

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The proposed new privacy law includes order-making powers, penalties but completely sidelines the existing Privacy Commissioner

On June 15, 2026, the Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation Even Solomon tabled in the House of Commons Bill C-36, called “An Act to enact the Protecting Privacy and Consumer Data Act, to amend the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act and to make amendments to other Acts”.

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The proposed new online safety law expands its scope to AI chatbots, introduces strict age limits, and streamlines regulatory oversight under a single Commission.

On June 10, 2026 the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture Marc Miller tabled Bill C-34 in Parliament, called the “Safe Social Media Act”. This legislation follows Bill C-63 (called the “Online Harms Act”). 

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Deadline to submit is August 7, 2026

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 7, 2026, 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 the CAN-TECH Law Fall Conference Dinner, details to follow.

DEADLINE:

Online submissions must be filed August 7, 2026.

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

• Rising Star Award
• Award of Distinction

SUBMIT FOR RISING STAR AWARD

SUBMIT FOR AWARD OF DISTINCTION

Save the Date: CAN-TECH Law Fall Conference, October 15 to 16, 2026

"Prompting Tomorrow: Shaping Next-Gen Law from Innovation to Implementation in the AI Era"

Fairmont Chateau Laurier, Ottawa

Join us at the premier national gathering for technology lawyers—whether you’re in-house, in private practice, in government, academia or simply grappling with technology-aware  advising, CAN-TECH’s annual conference will delve into the cutting-edge legal challenges shaping tomorrow: from AI governance and cybersecurity to quantum computing and emerging tech. Expect engaging insights, practical strategies, and a vibrant network of peers tackling innovation and law.

Let’s shape the future—together!

Co-Chairs:

Julia Johnson , Senior Director of Legal and Privacy, Assent

Julia Johnson is Senior Director, Legal and Privacy at Assent, a technology company focused on supply chain compliance solutions, where she leads the company’s global legal and privacy team. She brings extensive experience advising high-growth technology companies on privacy, AI, and complex commercial matters.

Prior to Assent, Julia was Director of Legal and Privacy at Ada, an AI customer service company, where she played a key role in the company’s shift to generative AI after joining full-time in 2022. She first advised Ada as outside counsel in 2017 and guided the company through major enterprise deals and global compliance initiatives.

Earlier in her career, Julia practiced at McCarthy Tétrault and LaBarge Weinstein, advising scaling technology companies on IP, data protection, financings, and M&A. A certified privacy professional (CIPP/C) and trademark agent, she brings deep expertise at the intersection of AI, law, and innovation.

Jennifer Davidson, Partner, Deeth Williams Wall LLP

Jennifer Davidson is a Partner and Co-Chair of Deeth Williams Wall’s Technology and Privacy Law Practice Group.

Jennifer advises clients on all aspects of the digital risk management lifecycle, including incident preparedness, risk assessment, response, ransomware negotiations, emergency management, and regulatory compliance.  Jennifer acts as breach counsel for clients in both the public and private sectors, managing security incidents on local, national, and international levels.

Jennifer’s technology practice encompasses a wide range of technology-related transactional matters, including procurement, data protection, S/I/PaaS solutions, IP protection and commercialization, particularly with respect to emerging technologies and machine learning algorithms.

Jennifer is the Chair of the Data Protection Committee at the International Technology Law Association (ITECHLAW), Past President of the Canadian Technology Law Association (CAN-TECH), Past Chair of the Ontario Bar Association’s IP&IT Law Section, and faculty at Osgoode Hall Law School’s Drafting and Negotiation IT Agreements certificate program.

Jennifer was recently recognized in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as Repeatedly Recommended as a Leading Lawyer for Data Privacy & Cybersecurity / Technology Transactions / Information Technology, Best Lawyers Canada: Ones to Watch in the practice areas of Technology Law, Privacy & Data Security Law, Information Technology Law and Intellectual Property Law.

Jennifer is a frequent speaker and writer on technology, cybersecurity, privacy and intellectual property law as well as matters pertaining to equality, diversity and inclusion in the legal sector.

Registration details coming soon!

Save the date: June 4, 2026

Back by popular demand, the CAN-TECH Spring Conference is set for June 4, 2026. This year, the conference will focus on preparing junior to mid-level technology lawyers for the realities of modern practice.

The half-day, pan-Canadian program, with hybrid in-person and webcast sessions, features panels across five satellite locations discussing a range of topics, including:

• key skills for handling technology transactions – including if they go wrong;
• a critical exploration of the current and future privacy law landscape; and
• guidance for both in-house and in-firm lawyers on developing a successful career in technology law. 

We look forward to you joining us at one of our locations across the country for a chance to learn and network with your peers in the industry.

Co-Chairs:

Kristal Allen, Partner, Dentons

Kristal is the co-lead of Dentons’ Venture Technology and Emerging Growth Companies practice, where she supports innovation-driven companies and serves as a strategic advisor from start-up through scale-up. Kristal is a pragmatic lawyer with a commercial focus, frequently advising on issues common to high growth entities such as collaborative development arrangements, technology development and commercialization, customer and supplier engagement, and intellectual property portfolio management. 

Kristal brings a wealth of practical and industry knowledge when advising clients, particularly in the health, food, and technology sectors. In her practice, Kristal draws upon her experience in the life sciences and technology industries. Before becoming a lawyer, she held a variety of positions in areas such as technical marketing, regulatory, and new product research and development for major life sciences companies, providing advice to R&D teams, marketers and regulators. 

Kristal joined Dentons’ as a partner in 2023, after practicing with another large Canadian law firm, and after several years as senior legal counsel and chief privacy officer to a large public company with global operations. 

M. Imtiaz Karamat, Associate Lawyer, Deeth Williams Wall LLP

M. Imtiaz Karamat is an associate lawyer with Deeth Williams Wall’s Technology and Privacy Group, where he assists both startups and established businesses with commercial transactions and maintaining compliance with privacy laws. Imtiaz’s multifaceted practice covers a range of technology and privacy matters, including advising clients on technology contracting, IP commercialization, privacy, data protection, and cybersecurity.

Imtiaz is passionate about emerging technologies and is always applying creative solutions to support clients with meeting their goals. Prior to entering the practice of law, Imtiaz completed extensive graduate research work in the medical sciences, which uniquely positions Imtiaz to advise clients in technology matters that intersect with the health sector.

Imtiaz regularly contributes to education initiatives in technology and privacy law, including organizing and presenting at local, provincial, and national legal programs.

Registration details coming soon! Stay tuned for more details on our five panellist host locations, coming soon!

Interested in hosting a "viewing" party for the conference? Email contact@cantechlaw.ca to express your interest in being a host city!

What we hope we see coming this quarter is the passing of Bill C-16 (currently in committee in the House of Commons)—or at least the parts of it that criminalize the circulation of “deepfakes” in the form of intimate images. 

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