Zoom-bombing concerns prompt Ontario to halt full public access to virtual court
An increasing number of Zoom bombings infiltrating Ontario courtrooms now means the public is banned from attending proceedings virtually.
On Wednesday, Assistant Deputy Attorney General Katie Wood sent a memo to court staff across the province saying "the public will not be permitted to observe proceedings virtually."
"If the public would like to attend, they will be required to do so in person," the memo said.
Virtual court hearings became commonplace during the COVID-19 pandemic that set in over five years ago, and since then, more concerns have been raised about Zoom bombings. Typically, it's when participants in a video conferencing meeting have had their screens hijacked by someone who's placed words and images on the screen or disrupted the call's audio.
Wood's memo noted there's been a notable rise in "Zoom-bombing incidents ... involving offensive content and targeted behaviour that have disrupted court proceedings."
Gytis Pabedinskas, a Windsor defence lawyer, has been in court on two occasions when Zoom bombers appeared.
"When the account went in, it started playing a pornographic [video] as well as had some audio playing where it was calling the judge an N-word," said Pabedinskas.
Even though these incidents are disturbing, local defence lawyer Laura Joy said the courts could have better utilized technology to prevent interruptions instead of instituting a virtual ban for the public.
"I understand why they're doing it, but I'm very hopeful that everybody will keep in mind the fundamental cornerstone of Canadian justice is transparency and open courts to the public," said Joy.
Concerns over removing public virtual access
Noel Semple, an associate professor in the University of Windsor's faculty of law, also said removing the public's virtual access to courtrooms is problematic.
"The open court principle is quite foundational in the Canadian legal system. Justice is not supposed to be in private, in darkened back rooms. It's supposed to be done in public. We should be doing everything we can to honour that principle."
Victims or complainants who want to appear virtually for their court matters must seek prior approval, Wood's memo says. The media also must get permission before observing court virtually.
The memo goes on to warn court staff about "Zoom bomber tactics," such as them posing as correctional institutions, interpreters or even police departments.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Ministry of the Attorney General noted the observer policy is available online and members of the public are permitted to attend court, in person.
'Come on down to the courthouse'
Defence lawyer Linda McCurdy applauds Zoom access being removed for observers.
McCurdy has been practising law for nearly 30 years, while virtual court only materialized in recent years.
"I don't view it at all as restricting or taking away something," she said about Wood's announcement.
"It's making sure that the court process is protecting from the kind of stuff that's going on.
"If you want to participate, if you want to view, come on down to the courthouse," she added.
Since the pandemic, she's seen formalities slip.
McCurdy said she's been in court when witnesses attending virtually are laying in bed or walking their dog, or an observer was heard going to the bathroom.
"They don't really take it seriously."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
28 minutes ago
- CBC
Here's how to keep your bike safe this summer
The warmer weather in the city means it's prime time for cycling — but that's also a recipe for more bike thefts. CBC's Emma Weller speaks with Ottawa police to get tips on how to keep your bike safe.
CBC
28 minutes ago
- CBC
Crombie vows to fight on in face of Ont. Liberal leadership challenge
Bonnie Crombie says she will spend the summer pitching a message of unity to Ontario Liberal Party faithful, as she fights to fend off a bid to remove her as leader in September. Crombie faces a mandatory leadership review at the party's annual general meeting and, under the organization's constitution, needs over 50 per cent support to stay on. But a group of Liberals has emerged calling for new leadership, a sentiment echoed by the candidate who finished second in the 2023 race she won. Crombie said she has spent the last few months touring the province, speaking with riding association presidents, candidates and party members. She wants to stay on as leader and intends to fight, she said in an interview with CBC News. "Certainly, the membership thought I was the right person in December of 2023," she said of her victory. "I think they still believe so today and I'm here to rebuild trust and to revitalize our party." Crombie won the Liberal leadership in a closer than expected third ballot vote at a party convention a year and a half ago. She edged out federal MP and former cabinet minister Nathaniel Erksine-Smith with 53 per cent of delegate points to his 47 per cent. But much has changed since her victory. WATCH | Crombie reacts to Ontario election loss: Crombie reacts to Ontario election loss 5 months ago Party members raise questions after 3rd place finish in seat count Doug Ford's Progressive Conservatives called a snap election earlier this year and won a third-straight majority government. Crombie's Liberals came second in the popular vote, winning nearly 30 per cent support. That translated to winning 14 seats and helped the party secure official party status — along with millions in resources — for the first time since 2018. But the Liberals remain the third place party in the legislature despite their improved vote share. Crombie failed to win her own seat in Mississauga where she once served as mayor, leaving her outside of the house and its debate. "Obviously, we wanted to win and we didn't," she said. "And I will say to you that that's very humbling." The results have given rise to criticism from some within the party. A group dubbed the New Leaf Liberals says Crombie's team was caught flat-footed by the snap vote, despite Ford musing about calling the election since last summer. As a result, it didn't have candidates in place fast enough to run competitive campaigns in many ridings. The group also says Crombie's team didn't pivot away from its health-care-themed platform when it became clear the election was focused on Trump, tariffs and the economy. Despite the Liberal Party constitution rules, Nathaniel Arfin, one of the group's founders, said the threshold should be higher for Crombie to stay on. In the group's view, she needs a minimum 66 per cent vote in the review to remain leader. "We are strictly calling for the current leadership to recognize that they have failed us and that it's time for us to move forward with change so that we can build a stronger Ontario Liberal Party," he said. And while Arfin said he has worked for Nate Erskine-Smith in the past, the group is not affiliated with the federal MP or other possible candidates. Erksine-Smith calls for change at the top of Ontario Liberal Party Erksine-Smith also said he is not affiliated with the group and has not decided if he will run if Crombie is forced out. "This isn't about me, it's about what's best for the party," he said in an interview with CBC News. He agreed a two-thirds majority of voting party members should be required if Crombie wants to stay on. "If you can't secure 66 per cent of your members, I mean, good luck in a general election," he said. Erskine-Smith said he's concerned that the registration fees for the event, as well as the cost to travel and attend the meeting in Toronto, will discourage many Liberals. He issued an open letter earlier this month calling on delegates to dump Crombie. "A new leadership race would attract talent, it would attract contributions, it would attract public attention, and that's exactly what we need if we're going to renew this party in a serious way," he said. Crombie said she has heard the criticisms from the group and from other members of the party as she toured the province this summer. She's making changes to address those, including opening candidate nominations in January 2026 for the next provincial election, providing more support to rural and northern ridings, and holding more policy conventions. "Many of the requests that this new organization has made, we have responded to," she said. "And if they want reform and change, I want them to know that I want it too." Crombie also said she thinks there are members of the party stoking discontent for their own gain. "There are people who have put their own ambitions ahead of the party," she said. "I think that's what we're seeing here." Despite some opposition, Crombie continues to have support. The Ontario Liberal Party executive endorsed Crombie's continued leadership after the election. And since Erskine-Smith published his open letter, most of the party caucus and former premier Kathleen Wynne have signalled their support for Crombie on social media. Former Ontario Liberal cabinet minister John Milloy said Erskine-Smith's showing in the 2023 race was impressive. However, the fact that he didn't run for the provincial Liberals in the last election, opting instead to run again federally, may lead some members to question his commitment to the Ontario party, he said. "Nate Erskine-Smith is trying to position himself as the heir apparent," Milloy said. "He's got a long way to go with that." "I don't think (the party has) the luxury of having some knock them down, drag them out, internal battle that goes on for years," added Milloy, who is now the director of the Centre for Public Ethics at Martin Luther University College. Crombie has good reason to be worried about the challenge, said McMaster University political science professor Peter Graefe. Winning the review vote by a healthy margin is essential and that could mean capturing as much 75 per cent. The in-fighting among the Liberals is a symptom of larger problems with the party still struggling to find its identity after a brutal 2018 loss, Graefe said. "The political base of parties is often very impatient and expect magic from leaders, when really they're the ones who have to make the magic happen through organization," he said. The Ontario Liberal Annual General meeting takes place from Sept. 12 to 14.
CBC
28 minutes ago
- CBC
Top tips to avoid bike theft, and what to do if it happens to you
It's a gut-wrenching moment — going to hop on your bike, only to discover it's not where you left it, even though you locked it. Anna Schlieneber knows the feeling all too well. "I locked my bike up. It had a U-lock and a cable lock on it, but I guess it didn't secure it well enough because when I came back down it was gone," she said. It happened last weekend, sometime during the 90 minutes that Schlieneber was visiting a friend in Centretown. "It's kind of violating. It's a piece of property that I really value. Like I use it for exercise, for activity, for getting around downtown, and it's just really upsetting," she said. Ottawa police say bike thefts in the city were actually on the decline from 2018 until last year, when they started ticking back up. "[In 2018] we were at an average of about 1,700 bikes stolen per year — and keep in mind, this is just what's reported and the information that we have — versus now we're seeing about 1,400," Const. Derek Thompson told CBC. Thompson works with the Ottawa Police Service's central neighborhood resource team, and says Centretown is still the city's hot spot for bike theft. But it can happen anywhere, especially without the right precautions. How to avoid bike theft Here are Thompson's best tips to prevent your prized possession from being stolen: Lock your bike in a visible public area. "Choose well-lit, very open, highly visible areas with ... very visible bike racks, bike racks that are fixed and immovable," Thompson advised. "What we want to do is create a situation where it certainly doesn't give them an opportunity to spend a lot of time working to defeat that locking mechanism." Use a hardy lock. The most reliable kind of lock is made of high-grade steel, which is much more difficult to sever with bolt cutters or other tools. Lock it up properly. Thompson said the best method is to loop the lock through the front wheel and bike frame, then secure it to a fixed rack or similar object. For extra protection, secure the back wheel with a second lock if possible. Register your bike with 529 Garage. It's a free anti-theft app that lets you upload a photo of your bike, the serial number and any other unique features to help identify it. Police use the app frequently to help reconnect recovered bikes with their owners. "It is a go-to resource for us to be able to identify whether a bike is stolen, and to immediately connect with the owner of that property," Thompson said. You can pick up a sticker to indicate your bike has been registered at Ottawa police headquarters on Elgin Street or through 529 Garage. What to do if your bike is stolen Thompson said if you witness a bike theft in progress, call 911. Don't call the non-emergency line or report online. Don't engage with the thief, but if possible take photos or videos of them in the act to help in any police investigation. If your own bike is stolen, Thompson said the best course of action is to file an official police report. Follow these steps, he said, and you just might see your stolen bike again. "Sometimes the greatest rewards in our job are returning something that's extremely valuable to somebody's possession, and the smiles on their faces, endless expressions of gratitude. I mean, those are what really makes our day," Thompson said.
