Download - Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation: What Charities and Not-For Profits Need to Know Before July 1, 2014
Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation:
What Charities and Not-For Profits
Need to Know Before July 1, 2014
.Maanit Zemel Esq., Barrister & Solicitor
[email protected] / (416) 937-9321
Webinar hosted by Techsoup Canada May 29, 2014
Overview
1. Overview of Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL)
2. The Commercial Electronic Messages (CEM) Requirements
3. Tips for preparing for CASL
4. Other CASL requirements
What is Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (“CASL”)?
The problem:
What is CASL? (cont’d)
The solution: Regulate everyone! CASL regulates all “Commercial Electronic Messages”
sent or accessed from a computer in Canada
CASL also regulates broad range of electronic / online activities including:
The installation of computer programs
Misleading advertising and marketing practices
Privacy invasion via your computer
Collecting email addresses without consent (email harvesting)
What is CASL? (cont’d)
Anyone can complain to the regulators by filing a complaint at:
www.fightspam.gc.ca
Fundamental Underlying Principles
All of the regulated activities may only be carried out:
1. With informed consent; and
2. With clear identification of the sender
“Opt-In” Regime
Significant Consequences for Non-Compliance
Administrative monetary penalties:
Individuals – fines up to $1 million per violation
Corporations – fines up to $10 million per violation
Private rights of action Class actions Vicarious liability of corporation for employees Liability of officers and directors for acts of
corporation Sweeping investigative powers (search and seizure
orders)
When will CASL be in force?
Three important dates:
July 1, 2014: requirements respecting CEMs
January 15, 2015: requirements respecting computer programs
July 1, 2017:
End of transition period for implied consent
private rights of action
Regulating Bodies
1) CRTC – CEMs and installation of computer programs
2) Privacy Commissioner – collection of personal information and address harvesting
3) Competition Bureau – misleading online advertising and marketing practices
Commercial Electronic Messages (“CEM”s)
What is a CEM?
CEM is a message sent by any electronic means (i.e., email, text, instant message, tweet) that has, as its purpose, or one of its purposes, to encourage participation in a “commercial activity”
What is a CEM (cont’d)
“Commercial activity” is:
“any particular transaction, act or
conduct that is of a commercial
character whether or not the
person who carries it out
does so in the expectation of
profit”
Do Charities / NPOs Transmit CEMs?
Yes!
Examples of CEMs: Emails seeking donations
Emails selling tickets to an event / lottery
Emails promoting services
Emails promoting a charitable event / activity
Electronic newsletters
Emails promoting the organization / charity
CEM Requirements
You are prohibited from sending a CEM to an electronic address unless:
The receiver has already consented to the receipt of the CEM; and
The CEM contains certain prescribed information
Subject to limited exclusions / exemptions
CEM Consent Requirements
CEMs may only be sent with recipient’s express or implied consent
Onus of proving consent rests with sender
CEM Consent (cont’d)
An electronic message requesting
consent is a CEM and is therefore
prohibited (post July 1, 2014)
Express Consent
Request for express consent may be obtained orally or in writing
Request for consent must include:
The purpose for which consent is being sought (“clearly and simply”)
Sender’s identifying and contact information and/or on whose behalf consent is being sought
Statement that receiver can withdraw their consent
Express Consent (cont’d)
Examples of proper forms of express consent:
Paper form
Electronically, not in a form of a CEM, and cannot include a “pre-checked box”
On your website
Orally – give someone a call then ask that they email / send you their consent
Implied Consent
Consent may be implied when: the recipient has:
1) “conspicuously published” his/her electronic address (on a website for example)
2) has not indicated a desire to not receive unsolicited CEMs; and
3) the message is relevant to recipient’s business role, duties or functions
the recipient has:1) disclosed his/her electronic address to sender
without indicating a wish not to receive unsolicited CEMs (e.g., business card); and
2) message is relevant to person’s role or duties in business or official capacity
Implied Consent (cont’d) –“Non-Business Relationship”
Applies to charities and NPOs
Consent is implied when:
Sender is registered charity (as defined in ITA) and recipient made donation or performed volunteer work in preceding two years
Sender is a non-profit organization (as defined in ITA) and recipient has been a member in the preceding two years
Implied Consent (cont’d) –“Existing Business Relationship”
In the two years prior to the sending of the CEM, the recipient had: Purchased / leased / bartered a product / good / service
/ land from the sender;
accepted a business / investment / gaming opportunity offered by the sender; or
a written contract is created between the recipient and the sender.
Or - Six months before the message is sent, the sender received from the recipient an inquiry or application about one of the items above.
Implied Consent (Cont’d)
3 Year Transitional Period: For parties who are in an existing
business or non-business relationship - implied consent is extended until July 1, 2017
This means that charities and NPOs have implied consent from their donors, volunteers and members until July 1, 2017
Information Requirements for CEMs
All CEMs must include: Identifying and contact information of sender (or
on whose behalf CEM is sent)
A means by which to contact the sender (to be effective for at least sixty days)
An “unsubscribe” mechanism
When not practical to include in CEM, this information must be posted on a website and the CEM must include a link to that website, which is clearly and prominently set out in message and is readily accessible
“Unsubscribe” Mechanism:
Must be effective for 60 days
Must be given effect within 10 days of request
Must be at no cost to requester
Exemptions from CEM Requirements
Registered Charities Exemption:
CEMs sent by or on behalf of a registered charity and “the message has as its primary purpose raising funds for the charity”
Charities Exemption
Emphasis is on “primary purpose” of message
Examples: Email that provides information about the
charity’s work and contains one sentence at the bottom asking for donations - is it for the primary purpose of raising funds? probably not
Email that sells tickets to a charitable event – is it for the primary purpose of raising funds? probably yes
Charities Exemption (cont’d)
What does “raising funds” mean?
Is it different than “fundraising”, as interpreted by the CRA?
CRTC likely to focus less on the intended use of the funds and more on the content of the message
“Primary purpose” is likely to be interpreted from the point of view of the receiver of the email (and not of the sender)
Other CEM Exemptions
1) “Personal” or “family” relationship 2) A CEM that consists solely of an inquiry or application 3) Solicited CEMs - sent in response to a request, inquiry
or complaint, or otherwise solicited by the person to whom the message is sent
4) Internal CEMs – sent within an organization / business and concerns the activities of that organization / business
5) CEMs between organizations / business – if the businesses / organizations “have a relationship” andthe CEM concerns activities of the receiver business / organization
6) CEMs sent to enforce a legal right
CEM Exemptions (cont’d)
7) CEMs sent within an electronic platform where “unsubscribe” and identifying information is conspicuously published and readily available (e.g., within a social network)
8) CEM sent within a limited-access secure account by the person who provides that account (e.g., banking portals)
9) CEM sent by a political party for the primary purpose of soliciting contributions
10) CEMs sent to a foreign jurisdiction (but must comply with foreign anti-spam laws)
11) Two way voice communications12) Faxes and voicemail messages sent to telephone
accounts
Exemptions that must contain info and “unsubscribe”
In limited circumstances, there is no need to obtain consent but must still include prescribed information (identifying info + unsubscribe):
1) Third party referral - the first CEM sent to a person based on a referral from a third party, after which consent will be needed for added CEMs
2) Provision of quote or estimate in response to a request3) Warranty, recall or product safety information4) CEM that delivers a product or service, including updates
and upgrades5) CEM that facilitates or confirms transactions 6) CEM that provides factual information about:
• Ongoing subscription, membership, accounts, loans • Ongoing use or ongoing purchases• Employment relations or benefit plans for employees
Do you send
CEMs?
You may be exempt from compliance only If:
The primary purpose of CEM is to raise
funds for the charity*
Are you a
Registered
Charity?
No further action
required
Is the CEM:
• A third party referral?
• Providing a quote or estimate in
response to an request
• Providing warranty, recall or product
safety information
• delivering a product or service, including
updates and upgrades
• facilitating or confirming transactions
• Providing factual information about:
1. Ongoing subscription, membership,
accounts, loans;
2. Ongoing use or ongoing purchases;
3. Employment relations or benefit
plans for employees
No further action
required
No consent required but
CEM must include:
• Identifying information
• Unsubscribe
mechanism
Do Other Exemptions Apply?
Ex.:
• Organization to organization
• Personal / family relationship
• Internal CEM
• An inquiry / application
• A response to an inquiry / request / complaint
• To enforce a legal right
• Sent within a secured access platform
• Within a platform containing unsubscribe and ID info
• To a foreign jurisdiction (must comply with foreign
laws)
Yes Yes
Is Consent Implied?
Only if:
1. You are a registered charity / Not-for-profit org.; and
2. Recipient has been a donor, volunteer or member in the
preceding 2 years
Implied consent only good for 2 years
Need to:
1. Include prescribed info
2. Keep track of 2 years
3. Obtain express consent before 2 years expires
Yes
• Before July 1, 2014:
1. Obtain express consent
2. Include prescribed ID info and unsubscribe mechanism in all CEMs
• After July 1, 2014:
1. Obtain consent in prescribed form
2. Include prescribed ID info and unsubscribe mechanism in all CEMs
No / unsure
No
CASL
Flowchart
for
Charities/NPOs Yes
Yes
(most likely)
No (unlikely)
No
Unsure – consider next step
Tips for Preparing for CASL
Tip #1: Get Your Board Onboard. Decisions respecting CASL should form part of
the organization’s overall risk management strategies
Decisions must be made at board and executive levels
If you are not getting the board / ED to pay attention – remind them of the D&O liability
TIPS (cont’d)
TIP #2: CONDUCT AN AUDIT
1) What forms of electronic communications does the organization use to communicate with internal and external parties?
2) On behalf of which entities does the organization send electronic communications?
3) What third-parties send electronic communications on your organization’s behalf?
4) To whom does the organization send electronic communications?
5) What do these communications contain?
6) What is the purpose of sending the electronic communications?
Tips (cont’d)
TIP#3: Develop and Implement CASL Compliance Policies and Procedures
Due Diligence Defence - a complete defence to CASL violations
You may rely on the due diligence defence only if you have a reasonable compliance policy
Compliance Policies (cont’)
Develop and implement procedures for:
• requesting, maintaining and implementing consents
• keeping track of implied consents
• implementing “unsubscribe” requests
Develop and implement CASL compliant language
Tips (cont’d)
TIP #4: Training and Education Train and educate management,
employees and volunteers on CASL requirements
Develop a training program
Ensure all new hires / volunteers receive training
Consider training third-parties that are sending CEMs on your behalf
TIPS (cont’d)
TIP#5: Review your contracts with third parties – require CASL compliance and include indemnification provisions for non-compliance
TIP#6: Consider buying insurance for CASL
TIP#7: Consult with IT specialists
Other CASL Requirements (non CEM)
1) Installation of computer programs
2) Unauthorized electronic collection of personal information
3) Email address harvesting
4) Prohibition against misleading marketing / advertising in electronic format
Computer Programs
It is prohibited to install a computer program (e.g., software, applications etc.) on a computer or device (phone, tablet etc.) in Canada unless express consent is provided by owner
This requirement applies to upgrade and updates of the computer program
Express consent is assumed if:
Consent was provided at the time the program was installed
For telecommunication service providers
To address a failure in the system’s software or hardware
For specific types of programs (cookies, HTML code etc.)
Coming into force – January 15, 2015
Computer Programs (cont’d)
Does this requirement apply to your organization?
Does your organization have an app for mobile devices?
Does your organization provide services through a computer program? (e.g., instructional video games)
Does your organization provide a program for its employees, members, donors etc. to be used to internally communicate with the organization (e.g., remote access)
If the answer is yes - you must seek consent for the installation, updates and upgrades of the program
Computer Programs (cont’d)
Does your program:
Collect personal information?
Interfere with owner’s ability to control their device?
Change settings or preferences without the owner’s knowledge?
Interfere with data, preventing the owner from accessing it?
Cause the device to communicate with another without the knowledge of the owner?
Install any software that can be activated remotely by a third party?
If YES to any of the above - make this information clear when requesting consent
Electronic Collection / Use Of Personal Information and Address Harvesting
CASL prohibits anyone from using electronic systems to collect and use personal information and email addresses without the express consent of the person whose information is collected / used
Review your online marketing strategy - does it perform any of these functions?
If yes - consider eliminating the practice altogether or obtaining consent
How Can We Help You?
Auditing of current and future practices Advice on developing and implementing CASL
compliance Drafting and review of compliance policies,
processes, and documentation Drafting and review of third party contracts Compliance training Representation before regulators and courts IT Consulting
(www.methodworksconsulting.com)
Resources & Updates
Follow me on Twitter - @maanitzemel; @casllaw
http://www.fightspam.gc.ca/
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/casl-lcap.htm
https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/ecic-ceac.nsf/eng/gv00521.html
QUESTIONS?
Maanit Zemel
[email protected] / @maanitzemel
Disclaimer: This presentation is provided as an information service and is a summary of
current legal issues. The information is not meant as legal opinion or advice and viewers
are cautioned not to act on information provided in this publication without seeking
specific legal advice with respect to their unique circumstances.
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