Cory Doctorow believes Canada’s internet is in dire need of reform, and current trade tensions with the U.S. could be the key to unlocking long-overdue change. Doctorow argues that Canada’s internet policies were shaped by decades-old pressure from U.S. trade threats tied to copyright law, leading to a legal system that protects corporate interests over users.
Canada’s internet legislation was heavily influenced by the U.S. Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), following Canada’s ratification of two 1996 WIPO treaties. Despite initial resistance, Stephen Harper’s government introduced a Canadian version of the DMCA in 2007, eventually passed as Bill C-11. Critics like Michael Geist, a law professor at the University of Ottawa, say the law favored copyright holders and implemented digital locks that restricted consumer rights.
Digital locks—such as Apple’s restrictions on third-party apps—limit innovation and prevent competition. Doctorow notes that these locks allow companies like Apple to monopolize app markets, profiting from every transaction without meaningful user choice. Efforts to create accessibility tools or public data applications have stalled under fear of legal consequences tied to digital locks.
Geist explains that the inclusion of these locks in Bill C-11 was the result of U.S. pressure threatening to derail tariff-free trade if Canada didn’t comply. Former heritage minister James Moore still defends the bill as part of Canada’s trade obligations.
However, with U.S. trade relations under strain due to President Donald Trump’s unpredictable tariff policies, Doctorow sees a chance for Canada to revise its digital copyright laws. He advocates for laws where breaking a digital lock is only illegal if it also infringes copyright.
The European Union has already moved in this direction, recently fining Apple 500 million euros for anti-competitive behavior under its Digital Markets Act. Doctorow argues that similar reforms in Canada could promote innovation, foster competition, and reclaim the internet as a public good rather than a corporate-controlled space.
Still, Geist remains skeptical that Canada will seize the opportunity, fearing concessions on digital rights in an attempt to mitigate broader trade issues with the U.S.
Swifteradio.com
