OTTAWA-GATINEAU — Online educational platform OneClass, owned and operated by Notesolution Inc., has agreed to pay $100,000 for allegedly violating Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL), the CRTC announced today.
The OneClass e-learning platform is used by post-secondary students to access student-created study guides, lecture notes and video tutorials.
The Commission’s investigation alleged that between October 31, 2016, and March 25, 2020, OneClass sent commercial electronic messages to promote its platform, without first obtaining the required consent from message recipients. In addition, the Commission alleged OneClass installed a computer program, “OneClass Easy Invite Chrome Extension”, on the computer systems of post-secondary students between October and November 2016 without meeting the necessary consent requirements.
In addition to agreeing to make the $100,000 payment, OneClass will develop and implement a compliance program addressing the sending of commercial electronic messages, says the Commission’s press release. The company also faced scrutiny earlier this year when researchers found a student database was not properly secured.
“We appreciate that OneClass took corrective action once it became aware of our investigation. The company has voluntarily entered into an agreement and committed to comply wit Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation. All businesses must ensure their commercial activities do not jeopardize Canadians’ online security or disrupt their online activities as they participate in the digital economy. I’d like to thank the University of Toronto and the University of British Columbia for their assistance with this investigation,” said Steven Harroun, the CRTC’s chief compliance and enforcement officer, in the press release.
The Commission also announced it recently updated its CASL Requirements for Installing Computer Programs guidelines.
CASL protects consumers and businesses from the misuse of digital technology, including spam and other electronic threats. Since CASL came into force, the CRTC’s enforcement efforts have resulted in payments of more than $1.3 million, including penalties totalling approximately $730,000. In addition, $608,000 has been paid as part of negotiated undertakings, such as the one voluntarily entered into by OneClass.
