U.S. Patriot Act poisoning the groves of (Canadian) academe

[Newsjock]

Source: Canadian Press

HALIFAX — A controversial U.S. law designed to fight terrorism has reached into the halls of Canadian academia, with universities finding ways to keep electronic data about their students out of American hands.

Some provinces have passed legislation designed to protect private information from sweeping powers outlined in the U.S. Patriot Act, which compels American companies to turn over virtually any information that the U.S. government requests.

Universities have had to spend money switching to computer servers strictly on Canadian soil, and have changed their relationships with online tools that detect plagiarism or help with research. They have also prevented professors from carrying laptops containing student information across the border.

... The Nova Scotia legislature passed a law aimed at shielding information from the Patriot Act late last year. Under the provincial law, public bodies are largely prevented from storing any private electronic information in the United States. If they run afoul of the law, institutions can face fines of up to $500,000.

... British Columbia revised its privacy legislation to deal with the Patriot Act in 2004, placing restrictions on the ability of public organizations to contract computing work to companies outside Canada. The law also imposes restrictions on travelling with computers containing personal data.

Read more: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070919.wpatriot0919/BNStory/Technology/home

[Adsos Letter]

1. We have become the pariah of the world...

[whoneedstickets]

2. A novelty, government acting in the interest of the people..

..wish we had that here.