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Law Bytes

Michael Geist
Canada
Artificial Intelligence
Privacy
Online Harms Act
Tiktok
CRTC
Social Media
Bill C-11
Privacy Law
Bill C-27
2025 Federal Election
Bill S-210
Digital Services Tax
Copyright Law
Canadian Content
Bill C-2
Bill C-18
Online Streaming Act
Hate Speech
Fair Dealing

In recent years the intersection between law, technology, and policy has exploded as digital policy has become a mainstream concern in Canada and around the world. This podcast explores digital policies in conversations with people studying the legal and policy challenges, set the rules, or are experts in the field. It provides a Canadian perspective, but since the internet is global, examining in... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes300Founded8 years ago
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Artwork for Law Bytes

Latest Episodes

Sovereignty, whether digital sovereignty, data sovereignty, or AI sovereignty, has been the hot-button issue in Canada for months. Governments have shifted policies in hopes of addressing the issue, the public has expressed interest in Canadian alter... more

YouTube

The Canadian government’s surprise decision to sign the UN Cybercrime Convention has sparked many questions about the convention, its risks, and what changed over the past nine months between Canada no-showing the signing in Vietnam and this month’s ... more

YouTube

Despite repeated studies and promises for reform, Canada’s access to information system has long been plagued by long delays, overbroad exclusions, insufficient resources, and an Information Commissioner without the resources and powers needed to ful... more

YouTube

The government’s privacy reform bill was supposed to earn applause for its effort to modernize outdated rules and provide Canadians with stronger privacy protections. Yet the decision to strip the Privacy Commissioner of Canada of responsibility for ... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Ben Waldman
Co-founder and CEO of Gander Social
Gander Social
Episode: Episode 278: Ben Waldman on Gander Social and the Challenges of Building a Sovereign Social Network
Caroline Maynard
Information Commissioner of Canada
Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada
Episode: Episode 276: Information Commissioner Caroline Maynard on Canada’s Access to Information Failures and Why Access Delayed is Access Denied
David Loukidelis
Former BC Information and Privacy Commissioner; former Deputy Attorney General of BC
BC Information and Privacy Commissioner (1999-2010); Deputy Attorney General, British Columbia
Episode: Episode 275: David Loukidelis on Why Stripping Privacy Enforcement from Canada’s Privacy Commissioner in Bill C-36 is Unnecessarily Risky Policy
Michael Geist
Law professor at the University of Ottawa, Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law
University of Ottawa
Episode: Episode 273: Rebroadcast of the Globe and Mail’s The Decibel on Canada’s First Steps Towards a Social Media Ban
Lucy Hargreaves
Co-founder and CEO of Build Canada, a non-partisan civic movement
Build Canada
Episode: Episode 272: Build Canada’s Lucy Hargreaves on Canada’s AI Strategy and the Need to Shift From Being Users to Builders
Avery Pennerun
CEO of Tailscale
Tailscale
Episode: Episode 270: Roundtable on the Bill C-22 Risks for Canadian Tech Companies Featuring VPN Services Tailscale and Windscribe
Yegor Sak
CEO of Windscribe
Windscribe
Episode: Episode 270: Roundtable on the Bill C-22 Risks for Canadian Tech Companies Featuring VPN Services Tailscale and Windscribe
Sara Grimes
Dr. Sara Grimes, Wolfe Chair in Scientific and Technological Literacy; McGill University
McGill University
Episode: Episode 268: Sara Grimes on the Moral Panic Behind Banning Kids from Social Media and AI Chatbots
Peter Nowak
Telecom journalist, founder of Do Not Pass Go
Do Not Pass Go
Episode: Episode 267: Peter Nowak on Rogers, the Shaw Merger Aftermath, and the Limits of Canadian Telecom Policy

Host

Michael Geist
Host of Law Bytes; law professor with a focus on Internet and E-commerce Law; affiliated with the University of Ottawa / Law Bytes.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 89 ratings
  • Thoughtful analysis

    How refreshing to hear this kind of thoughtful, well considered analysis is these important topics. And well articulated too!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tompled
    Canada4 years ago
  • Amazing podcast

    From students to experts, everyone learns from this podcast. No wonder the entire legal community subscribes to it.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LaurianeLr
    Canada6 years ago
  • Thanks for the Tribute to Ian Kerr

    Made for an emotional commute this morning, but it was also an inspiration to keep fighting the good fight and to keep paying goodness forward. Thanks Michael.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Maman Canadienne
    Canada7 years ago
  • Would appreciate more context

    I realise that, as this is a niche show, most listeners probably already have the prerequisite background knowledge for the discussed issues, but as an outsider, I would really appreciate more contextual introduction/explanation.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    herb sherb
    Canada7 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate thoughtful, well-argued analysis of complex topics.
Some listeners want more accessible context for outsiders to follow the discussions.
Positive sentiment about the host's ability to connect policy with practical implications.
Experts from law and tech provide credible depth for policy makers and journalists.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 278: Ben Waldman on Gander Social and the Challenges of Building a Sovereign Social Network
Q: What is the stance on data used for AI and training policies?
The plan is to avoid training on user content unless explicitly demanded by the community, favoring a sovereign, possibly open-source AI path that serves accessibility and moderation without broad data harvesting.
Episode 278: Ben Waldman on Gander Social and the Challenges of Building a Sovereign Social Network
Q: How is user verification handled, and what is the impact on sign-ups?
They use a mix of verification methods (Canada Post Identity Plus via a bank account sign-in, institutional emails, and optional post-office verification) to balance safety with accessibility, accepting that some friction may deter a portion of potential users.
Episode 278: Ben Waldman on Gander Social and the Challenges of Building a Sovereign Social Network
Q: What are the main challenges in building a sovereign social network in Canada?
Key challenges include finding sovereign cloud providers, navigating foreign data requests, and implementing effective yet non-invasive identity verification, all while keeping moderation aligned with Canadian values.
Episode 278: Ben Waldman on Gander Social and the Challenges of Building a Sovereign Social Network
Q: Origin story: what prompted Gander to start, and how does it differ from other platforms like X or BlueSky?
Gander emerged as a response to concerns about data sovereignty and the influence of US platforms; it aims to keep data under Canadian control, with community-driven development and a governance model that emphasizes safer, less manipulated online spaces.
Episode 276: Information Commissioner Caroline Maynard on Canada’s Access to Information Failures and Why Access Delayed is Access Denied
Q: What is the potential impact of redefining what counts as a record?
Narrowing the definition risks hiding important information behind the new boundaries, reducing Canadians' ability to investigate government decisions and operations.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About Law Bytes

What is Law Bytes about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show consistently dives into the intersection of law, technology, and policy with a Canadian lens. Episodes center on privacy, government surveillance, digital rights, and regulatory design, often featuring policy scholars, privacy lawyers, journalists, and tech leaders who critique current laws and propose governance improvements. A notable strength is hosting deep-dive conversations with recognized experts, along with timely takes on AI strategy, online safety, FOI reform, and broadband/telecom policy, offering practical insights for policymakers, technologists, and legal practitioners. The format tends to balance rigorous analysis with accessible explanations, making it valuable for listeners who want to understand how policy choices... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Law Bytes?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Law Bytes:

1. Hub Podcasts
2. The Munk Debates Podcast
3. The Herle Burly
4. The House
5. The Decibel

How many episodes of Law Bytes are there?

Law Bytes launched 8 years ago and published 300 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Law Bytes?

Recent guests on Law Bytes include:

1. Ben Waldman
2. Caroline Maynard
3. David Loukidelis
4. Michael Geist
5. Lucy Hargreaves
6. Avery Pennerun
7. Yegor Sak
8. Sara Grimes

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