News

  • PrivComm releases Annual Report on Privacy Act
    - 2007-10-18 -

    In this year's annual report on the Privacy Act, the Privacy Commissioner of Canada takes aim at overly-invasive national security measures, and calls on the federal government to act on issues such as identity theft and spam.  Once again, she urges a full review and revamping of the Privacy Act, noting that it "has remained virtually unchanged since its passage 25 years ago and no longer meets the needs of our dramatically transformed privacy landscape".

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  • Industry Canada responds to Parliament on PIPEDA Review
    - 2007-10-18 -

    The Minister of Industry has filed the federal government's response to the recommendations made by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in its statutory review of the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act ("PIPEDA").

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  • Privacy concerns high; awareness low
    - 2007-10-18 -

    A nation-wide poll conducted for the Privacy Commissioner of Canada earlier this year indicates that Canadians are concerned about their privacy and think that businesses and government should do more to protect them in this regard.  However, awareness of privacy laws and institutions is low.  80% think strong privacy laws are "highly important". Over 90% think that they should be notified of security breaches affecting their personal information. Spam is considered to be a serious issue by 72%. 

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  • Throne Speech Promises Copyright Reform
    - 2007-10-16 -

    The Conservative government's throne speech promises copyright reform: "Our Government will improve the protection of cultural and intellectual property rights in Canada, including copyright reform."  This suggests Canadians will see a copyright bill introduced in the near future.  Without more details, it is difficult to see the form this reform will take.  However, the characterization of the legislation as "improving the protection" afforded IP is ominous.  There is little room in that forumula for important reforms to address consumer, library, or educational community needs.

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  • CIPPIC critiques proposal for police access to subscriber data
    - 2007-10-15 -

    CIPPIC filed comments today in response to a Consultation by Public Safety Canada on proposals for expanded police access to customer name and address "CNA" information from telecommunications service providers.  In keeping with its past comments on this issue, CIPPIC argued that the proposal is over-broad and unlikely to pass a Charter test, given the sensitivity of CNA information in a digital world.

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  • Independence of Consumer Complaints body at issue
    - 2007-10-01 -

    CIPPIC filed comments today with the CRTC on the appropriate mandate and structure of a new Telecommunications Consumer Agency.  The Agency is being set up in response to an Order-in-Council by the federal government.  CIPPIC notes a number of deficiencies in the industry proposal, and recommends stronger safeguards against industry meddling and a broader mandate for the Agency.

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  • Civil Society groups call for stronger privacy protections worldwide
    - 2007-09-25 -

    CIPPIC joined dozens of other civil society groups from around the world in a Declaration calling on Privacy Commissioners to take more aggressive action to protect individual privacy vis-a-vis the state and commercial entities, in light of "the creation of an unprecedented infrastructure for the global surveillance of individuals and groups" and the failure of legal systems to keep pace with new technologies.  The Privacy Commissioners were gathered in Montreal, Quebec for their annual conference.

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  • CIPPIC Releases Study on DRM & Privacy
    - 2007-09-18 -

    CIPPIC today released the results of a comprehensive investigation into the privacy implications of digital rights management technologies, or “DRM”.  The study, funded by the contributions program of the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada and titled "Digital Rights Management and Consumer Privacy:  An Assessment of DRM Applications Under Canadian Privacy Law", investigated DRM used in 16 different digital products and services.  The study concluded that many DRM technologies in fact pose threats to privacy and that organizations using those technologies often fail to comply with basic requirements of Canadian privacy law. 

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  • CIPPIC asks PrivComm to audit Google & DoubleClick
    - 2007-09-17 -

    CIPPIC filed a formal request today with the Canadian Privacy Commissioner, asking her to initiate an audit of Google and DoubleClick pursuant to her powers under the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act.  CIPPIC's letter sets out a number of ways in which Google and DoubleClick may be violating the law already, and expresses concern about even more serious and widespread privacy invasions if internet behemoth Google is permitted to acquire DoubleClick, the industry leader in targeted advertising online. CIPPIC's request follows similar actions taken by public interest organizations in the U.S. and Europe.

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  • Industry Canada Consultation on PIPEDA Implementation
    - 2007-09-13 -

    Further to a Parliamentary Committee's review of the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act ("PIPEDA"), Industry Canada is seeking views on the implementation of a data breach notification provision, and on the concepts of "work product" and "lawful authority". Other issues on which public input is being sought include witness statements, consent by minors, investigative bodies and the extent to which elements contained in the health-related PIPEDA Awareness Raising Tools (PARTs) document may be set out in legislative form.  Comments are due by January 15th, 2008, and can be sent by email to PIPEDAconsultation@ic.gc.ca.
    Canada Gazette Notice
    Government Response to Committee Report on PIPEDA

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