AI Facial Recognition Company & Privacy Law, Drone Interference, And DIY Silencers
Your face might already live in a searchable database—and BC’s courts just drew a sharp line around what companies can do with it. We break down a major ruling that upholds the privacy commissioner’s order against Clearview AI, unpack why “publicly available” doesn’t mean “free to scrape,” and explain how a province can regulate a US firm with no brick-and-mortar presence. This is a story about jurisdiction in the age of the internet, biometric data rights, and the limits of consent on social media platforms Canadians use every day.
From there, we pivot to a wildfire zone, where a tiny drone met a big legal problem. When a helicopter pilot fighting the Kelowna blaze was irritated and distracted by a nearby drone, the court found that distraction alone interfered with fire control under the Wildfire Act. We walk through the difference between strict and absolute liability, why due diligence matters, and how “no harm done” isn’t a shield when public safety is at stake.
We close with a sign of the times: 3D printed suppressors that triggered prohibited device charges. Beyond the plastic parts and lab delays, the headline is new criminal exposure for simply accessing or possessing digital files intended to produce firearms or key components. We talk through how Canadian firearms law treats suppressors, why courts imposed a conditional sentence rather than jail in this case, and what makers and hobbyists need to know before downloading a file that could cross a legal line.
If privacy, drones, or maker tech lives anywhere near your world, this episode offers clear, practical takeaways: don’t assume public equals fair use, steer drones far from emergency operations, and think twice before clicking on gun-printing files. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a reality check on tech and law, and leave a review to tell us where you think the line should be drawn next.
Legally Speaking with Michael Mulligan is live on CFAX 1070 every Thursday at 12:30 p.m. It’s also available on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.