Huffington Post: TekSavvy warns Canadians it has received requests for personal info

Independent Internet Service Provider TekSavvy has announced that an American film studio is demanding personal information of its Canadian customers – a motion that follows recent changes to Canadian copyright law. In response, TekSavvy is taking a stance that aims to protect Canadian privacy – stating that it will not provide personal information without a court order. Help encourage this protection of Canadians' privacy in making the switch to an independent ISP at OpenMedia.ca/Switch. Join us in becoming a monthly contributor to OpenMedia at OpenMedia.ca/Allies. Article by Daniel Tencer for Huffington Post An independent internet service provider popular with tech geeks in central Canada is warning that it has been asked to hand over personal information about customers in advance of a potential file-sharing lawsuit, and it’s telling its customers they may want to lawyer up. Chatham, Ont.-based TekSavvy says it has received a request from Hollywood production company Voltage Pictures to identify the people behind 2,000 IP addresses which the company presumably suspects of unauthorized file-sharing.

Though TekSavvy says it doesn’t know exactly what Voltage plans to do with this information, it’s likely a prelude to a file-sharing lawsuit.

Voltage last year launched a lawsuit against alleged unauthorized sharers of its movie The Hurt Locker, one of the first of this kind of lawsuit in Canada. Court records show the lawsuit was abandoned earlier this year, after the film company sent out settlement requests to individuals targeted in the suit.

“This is unknown territory for Canadians,” TekSavvy CEO Marc Gaudrault said in a statement. “We have retained legal counsel to help us through the process and ascertain our rights and obligations as an ISP. If you are caught up in one of these actions, you may wish to seek legal advice respecting your own rights.”

In an email to the press Monday, TekSavvy’s tone suggested it will stand up for its customers.

“We will not provide information on customers to a third party unless ordered by a court,” spokesperson Tina Furlan told The Huffington Post. Read more »

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