My name is Ian Linkletter and on September 2nd, 2020, I was sued for copyright infringement by a company called Proctorio, Incorporated because I linked to their YouTube videos. This kind of lawsuit, in which a company like Proctorio sues an outspoken critic like me, is sometimes referred to as a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (or “SLAPP“). This website compiles my statements and updates related to Proctorio’s SLAPP.
From 2020 to 2024 my application under the Protection of Public Participation Act was considered by all levels of court in Canada. My application was partially allowed, with Proctorio’s allegations of “circumvention of technological protection measures” dismissed and their injunction modified to make clear that I can share anything publicly available. The rest of my application was not successful and Proctorio’s lawsuit has been allowed to proceed.
Find me on Twitter, Mastodon or Bluesky. My legal filings can be found at https://appeal.linkletter.org. I can be contacted by members of the press at press@linkletter.org.
Media Coverage
EFF – Student Surveillance Vendor Proctorio Files SLAPP Lawsuit to Silence A Critic
The Guardian – ‘I’m afraid’: critics of anti-cheating technology for students hit by lawsuits
The New Yorker – Is Online Test-Monitoring Here to Stay?
The Verge – An ed-tech specialist spoke out about remote testing software — and now he’s being sued
VICE Motherboard – An Exam Surveillance Company Is Trying to Silence Critics With Lawsuits
Public Statements
October 16, 2020 – Statement to Media
March 2, 2021 – Statement to Media
September 2, 2021 – Letter to Senators
SLAPP Updates
From October 16th, 2020 to April 2021 I raised over $85,000 CAD from GoFundMe and a Teach-In Against Surveillance organized in my defence. I have been keeping the almost 1000 people who donated apprised of my SLAPP journey. These are my updates.
- October 16, 2020 – Stand Against Proctorio’s SLAPP Launch
- October 16, 2020 – Update #1
- October 18, 2020 – Update #2
- October 23, 2020 – Update #3
- November 19, 2020 – Update #4
- March 2, 2021 – Update #5
- April 27, 2021 – Update #6
- April 29, 2021 – Update #7
- June 15, 2021 – Update #8
- July 21, 2021 – Update #9
- October 8, 2021 – Update #10
- November 22, 2021 – Update #11
- November 29, 2021 – Update #12
- November 30, 2021 – Update #13
- November 30, 2021 – Update #14
- January 24, 2022 – Update #15
- January 28, 2022 – Update #16
- February 6, 2022 – Update #17
- February 10, 2022 – Update #18
- March 14, 2022 – Update #19
- April 13, 2022 – Update #20
- April 27, 2022 – Update #21
- July 7, 2022 – Update #22
- July 20, 2022 – Update #23
- July 27, 2022 – Update #24
- August 30, 2022 – Update #25
- September 21, 2022 – Update #26
- December 1, 2022 – Update #27
- December 2, 2022 – Update #28
- April 18, 2023 – Update #29
- April 19, 2023 – Update #30
- June 19, 2023 – Update #31
- January 11, 2024 – Update #32
Updates Timeline (current to August 30, 2022) (click full-screen icon at top right)