« Cartoons | Home | Recent Comments | Categories | Airport cops: we don’t keep track of your books (unless they’re *suspicious* books) »
DRM violates Canadian privacy law
[Quote:]
The University of Ottawa’s Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic has just released a huge, deep report on the privacy implications of various DRM systems. They examine 16 different systems in depth and conclude that DRM is a grave threat to personal privacy.
Our assessment of the compliance of these DRM applications with PIPEDA led to a number of general findings:
• Fundamental privacy-based criticisms of DRM are well-founded: we observed tracking of usage habits, surfing habits, and technical data.
• Privacy invasive behaviour emerged in surprising places. For example, we observed e-book software profiling individuals. We unexpectedly encountered DoubleClick – an online marketing firm – in a library digital audio book.
• Many organizations take the position that IP addresses do not constitute “personal information” under PIPEDA and therefore can be collected, used and disclosed at will. This interpretation is contrary to Privacy Commissioner findings. IP addresses are collected by a variety of DRM tools, including tracking technologies such as cookies and pixel tags (also known as web bugs, clear gifs, and web beacons).
• Companies using DRM to deliver content often do not adequately document in their privacy policies the DRM-related collection, use and disclosure of personal information. This is particularly so where the DRM originates with a third party supplier.
• Companies using DRM often fail to comply with basic requirements of PIPEDA.
|
Not worse than watermarking!!!DRM are not perfect but they intend to put a little respect on the world of intellectual property. I like what Entriq’s DRM system does on 9thX ( a good new marketplace if you want to sell and resell content). Let’s stop putting the blame on DRM…
Okay, what do I blame for the fact that 9thX cannot play on my Mac, if not the DRM?