McKenna Centre Distinguished Speaker Series Presents Michael Geist

Michael Geist, Professor of Law and Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-Commerce Law, will deliver a public lecture Tuesday, October 2 at 7:00 pm in the Kinsella Auditorium. The lecture "Using Law Responsibly: What Happens When Law Meets Technology?" is part of the McKenna Centre Distinguished Speaker Series.

The law has long struggled to keep pace with the rapid change that comes with the Internet and new technologies. From the cross-border challenges posed by a global network to the privacy implications of big data, law and policy simply cannot move at 'Internet speed.' Yet despite the difficulties, politicians and policy makers increasingly find themselves at the heart of emerging policy issues, asked to address the balance between privacy and surveillance, the competing copyright interests of creators and users, and the market structure for network providers and disruptive competitors. This talk will explore the emerging law and policy challenges, highlighting how all Internet users have the opportunity to help shape the digital policy landscape.

A professor at the University of Ottawa, Geist was named one of the 25 Most Influential Lawyers in Canada for three straight years (2011-2013). He holds degrees from Western University, York University, Cambridge University, and Columbia University. He’s been a member of the International Trade Committee on E-commerce, the Senate Open Caucus on NAFTA, the Access to Information, Privacy & Ethics Committee on Airport Privacy, and many others.

Geist is the author of three books, 14 book chapters, and 19 papers in refereed journals.