Introduction

Technology has, and continues to, become tightly intertwined with business and society. To make things more challenging, technology is adapting at a pace previously unseen in society.  While businesses struggle to keep up with dynamic and continual technological advancements, governments are lagging behind in updating laws to manage business practices to protect investors, consumers and society. It is within this rapidly changing environment that businesses and individuals need to understand their risk, rights and obligations.

The reality is that technology can greatly enhance commerce and education in ways that were unthinkable a few years ago. It is this speed of technology that makes most laws in Canada outdated and ineffective for regulating technology advancements. As an example, the advancement of streaming services which allow people to download content from anywhere in the world completely bypasses the traditional media channels that the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is still trying to manage with outdated rules.

The key element that all students should know, and they often forget, is that traditional laws in Canada still apply to the technology world.  Though regulations are developing in response to new technologies and laws may not be fully developed or understood, all people and businesses need to be aware of the laws which govern and may affect their actions and outcomes relative to technology.