The case concerned whether an IP address, the code that identifies a device on the Internet, qualifies as personal data protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The majority decision, written by Judge Andromache Karakatsanis, argued that the IP address is indeed the “critical link” between the user and their online activities. It deserves a “reasonable expectation of privacy” because it could ultimately reveal the user’s identity.
Judge Karakatsanis emphasized that privacy concerns go beyond the limited information directly associated with an IP address. It noted that this information may be combined with third-party data to provide a complete picture of the user’s online activities.
Some have expressed concerns that obtaining warrants for IP addresses could hinder law enforcement investigations. But the court’s majority said obtaining a search warrant did not impose an unreasonable burden and protected Canadians’ privacy without compromising public safety.
Source: Ferra
I am a professional journalist and content creator with extensive experience writing for news websites. I currently work as an author at Gadget Onus, where I specialize in covering hot news topics. My written pieces have been published on some of the biggest media outlets around the world, including The Guardian and BBC News.
