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A decision to bar Canadian citizens from being future contestants on TV's 

 quiz show is causing a range of reactions in Canada, particularly among those who note that show host Alex Trebek has dual citizenship in the U.S. and Canada.
Media outlets in Canada recently noted that their country is singled out in 

 to note, "Trebek may be one of the only Canadians on 

 next season."
The situation is being attributed to differences in online privacy laws – but some Canadians aren't buying it. Here are the two top-rated comments on the 


That CBC story, we'll note, was under the headline, "I'll take Bummer for $400: Canadians no longer allowed on 

 last week that while Canadian contestants have been on the show in the past — and more are also competing in the current season — "for the most recent 

 contestant tryouts, Canadians were precluded from taking the online test, since the show must now comply with new rules set down by the Canadian government."


But Trebek also noted that once they're in the pool of contestants, people stay there for 18 months, meaning that Canadians who registered before the ban could still appear. He also said the show's producers hope to make sure it is in compliance with Canada's laws.


The precise snag that's keeping Canadians from signing up for future episodes of the show isn't being discussed in detail. Reports in Canadian media cite a statement from the producers of

 in which they said, "As international laws governing how information is shared over the internet are ever-changing and complex, we are currently investigating how we can accept registrations from potential Canadian contestants."
Citing two legal experts, the 

 says the law in question could be Canada's anti-spam legislation, which carries potential penalties of up to $10 million for abuse. The newspaper reports that the law, enacted in July of 2014, "forbids companies from emailing citizens without their express or implied permission. In the U.S., it's enough to allow customers to opt-out."
One other notable piece of online privacy legislation that recently took effect in Canada is the 

sets rules for how personal information can be collected, used and disclosed. It also regulates how companies handle cybersecurity breaches and sets steep fines for companies that don't handle them properly.
When 

 asked the office of Canada's Privacy Commissioner how many complaints Canadians had filed about 

Arts and Culture

A decision to bar Canadian citizens from being future contestants on TV's Jeopardy quiz show is causing strong reaction in Canada, particularly among those who note that show host Alex Trebek has dual citizenship in the U.S. and Canada.

Ken Jennings Crush Jeopardy's Winnings Record

Why Canadians can't be on Jeopardy any longer

Go Deeper.

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