Signaling a major shift in the way Meta approaches users' privacy, the company recently announced plans to make all of its messaging services — WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram DMs — end-to-end encrypted (E2EE). As part of its initiative, Meta commissioned a human rights impact assessment (HRIA), which concluded that, "Meta’s planned expansion of strong … [Read more...] about Encryption HRIA
Data Protection
Government Plans Publicity Blitz to Undermine Privacy of Your Chats
Successive Home Secretaries of different political parties have taken strong anti-encryption stances, claiming encryption — which is essential for online privacy and security — will diminish the effectiveness of UK bulk surveillance capabilities, make fighting organized crime more difficult, and hamper efforts to stop terror attacks. The latest tactic — a carefully crafted PR … [Read more...] about Government Plans Publicity Blitz to Undermine Privacy of Your Chats
The Big Story: How a Calgary-based proof of vaccination app was breached
Portpass was recommended to fans by the entity that owns two Calgary sports teams. They weren't alone. According to the company's estimates, more than 500,000 Canadians were using Portpass to show proof of their vaccination status. And then a local app developer got curious about what was under the hood of this supposedly secure application and started digging around. Now the … [Read more...] about The Big Story: How a Calgary-based proof of vaccination app was breached
Building Back Better Requires Strong, Effective Regulation of Digital World
Privacy Commissioner Daniel Therrien called on Canada's new parliament to adopt modern, rights-based privacy laws that reflect Canadian values and support responsible innovation. Providing businesses of the 4th industrial revolution more flexibility and certainty in the extraction of value from personal data is not the way to accomplish that or to engender the public's trust. … [Read more...] about Building Back Better Requires Strong, Effective Regulation of Digital World
When it comes to QR codes, cyber-security experts urge caution
Since the start of the pandemic in 2020, an urgency to bounce back in the new normal has led to the use of QR codes at restaurants and other businesses. However, this surging trend has led to numerous red flags from privacy and cyber-security experts, as they urge Canadians to be cautious in how they use this technology. What concerns should we be watching out for? Sharon … [Read more...] about When it comes to QR codes, cyber-security experts urge caution
Government announces preferred candidate for Information Commissioner
John Edwards, who has served as New Zealand's Privacy Commissioner since 2014, is the UK Government’s preferred candidate for Information Commissioner. Pending his appearance before MPs on the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee for pre-appointment scrutiny on 9th September 2021, the recommendation from ministers, and appointment by Her Majesty, Mr Edwards will … [Read more...] about Government announces preferred candidate for Information Commissioner
