David Fraser

About David

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David Fraser is well-known as one of Canada’s leading internet, technology and privacy lawyers. He regularly advises a range of clients – from startups to Fortune 100 companies – on all aspects of technology and privacy laws.

David advises private and public sector clients to implement compliance programs for Canadian privacy legislation, including the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (Canada), the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (Nova Scotia) and the Privacy Act (Canada). He regularly provides opinions on privacy laws for both Canadian and international clients and is a frequently invited speaker on this topic. David also acts for complainants and respondents in matters referred to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner. He is the author of the popular Canadian Privacy Law Blog (blog.privacylawyer.ca) and Canadian Cloud Law Blog (cloudlawyer.ca). David’s Privacy Law Blog was awarded a “Clawbie” in 2013 by the Canadian Law Blog Awards. David is also ranked in the Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory.

David is widely recognized as one of Canada’s foremost authorities on privacy law and other legal issues associated with cloud computing. He regularly advises vendors and customers in connection with implementing cloud computing projects, in both the public and private sectors. David is particularly known for his ability to cut through the seemingly intractable issues related to cross-border data flows and law enforcement/national security access to customer data.

A significant portion of David’s practice is devoted to working with American and multi-national businesses in addressing Canadian privacy law issues. This often includes contract negotiations, policy reviews, pre-launch product reviews, addressing complaints and advising with respect to data breaches. For example, David regularly advises Google Inc. and has represented the company before the Privacy Commissioner of Canada in connection with a range of matters, including Google’s inadvertent collection of WiFi payload information when driving Street View cars in Canada.

In addition, David is the Past President of the Canadian IT Law Association and the former Chair of National Privacy and Access Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association. David is consistently included in The Best Lawyers in Canada in the categories of Information Technology law, Privacy and Data Security law and Technology law. He was also recognized by Best Lawyers^®  as the Information Technology Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Halifax for 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2023. He is listed among the world’s leading lawyers in Internet and eCommerce Law in the International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers. In the spring of 2006, David was a recipient of an Outstanding Young Canadian Award by the Junior Chamber of Commerce International – Halifax Chapter. In 2009, David was named as one of Canada’s “Top 40 Lawyers Under 40” by Lexpert, and is listed in Lexpert’s guide to leading lawyers in Canada. In 2011, he was named by The Lawyers Weekly as one of Canada’s top 24 legal social media influencers. In 2013, David was among the finalists for Canadian Lawyer magazine’s most influential Canadian lawyers. David is also ranked in The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory and was recognized by Chambers Canada 2018 and 2023 as a leading practitioner in the area of privacy and data security.  In 2017, he was listed as one of the world’s top 30 data, privacy, cybersecurity practitioners in the Euromoney Best of the Best Expert Guide, 2017.

David is often sought out by the media for informed commentary on privacy and technology law issues, including CBC’s The National, CTV National News, CBC Radio, the National Post, Lawyer’s Weekly, Canadian Lawyer and the Halifax Chronicle Herald.

David has served on the Research Ethics Board of the Capital District Health Authority. He is currently a member of the Joint Data Access Committee of the IWK Health Centre for Women and Children in Halifax, which reviews applications for research access to personal health information. In 2002, David was invited to be an associate of the Institute of Law and Technology. He is a member of the faculty of Dalhousie Law School, where he teaches Internet and Media Law, Law and Technology, and Law and Policy for Electronic Commerce. He is on the editorial board of the Canadian Journal of Law and Technology and is a regular contributor to the Canadian IT Law Association’s newsletter. Active in the Halifax technology community, David is a member of the board of directors of Digital Nova Scotia (formerly ITANS).