Michael Geist Canadian lawyer and scholar Date of Birth: 11.07.1968 Country: Canada

1. Michael Geist: Legal Scholar and Advocate
2. Education and Career
3. Online Commentary and Media Presence
4. Policy Involvement
5. Wikipedia Edits by Government

Michael Geist: Legal Scholar and Advocate

Michael Geist is a prominent Canadian legal scholar and advocate. He holds the Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-Commerce Law at the University of Ottawa. Geist's expertise encompasses a wide range of technology-related legal issues.

Education and Career

Geist received his education at the University of Northern Ontario, the University of Cambridge, and Columbia Law School. He has dedicated his career to the intersection of law and technology, becoming a leading voice on these matters in Canada.

Online Commentary and Media Presence

Geist's weekly column on technology and law has been featured in major Canadian newspapers, including the Vancouver Sun, Toronto Star, and Ottawa Citizen. Through his writings, he provides insightful commentary on emerging legal issues in the digital age.

Policy Involvement

Geist has actively participated in policy discussions related to the internet. He served as a member of Canada's National Anti-Spam Task Force. Additionally, he has played a key role in the debate surrounding the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA).

Geist has consistently criticized ACTA, expressing concerns about its lack of transparency and potential negative consequences for internet users. He has argued that the focus on combating piracy in these agreements is misguided, as they fail to address the broader societal implications of intellectual property enforcement.

Wikipedia Edits by Government

In 2008, Geist conducted an investigation that uncovered "laudatory" edits made to the Wikipedia page of Canadian Minister of Industry Jim Prentice. These edits were traced back to IP addresses associated with the Department of Industry. Geist's findings shed light on the practice of politician-driven Wikipedia editing, a phenomenon that has been observed in other countries as well.