The AB TraceTogether app will be decommissioned on June 23, 2022. Temporary User IDs that have been exchanged via Bluetooth with other phones running the App are stored locally on users' phones and cleared after 21 days. Alberta Health's Information Management Branch has confirmed that "information that has been collected from the App by Alberta Health and Alberta Health … [Read more...] about Covid App Closure
Data Protection
PACC pledges support of the International Chat Control Working Group
In its efforts to rein in Big Tech and tackle child abuse, the EU is moving toward a new era of oversight to control internet content. The objectives are laudable, but the mechanisms being put in place will force all providers of chat, messaging, and email services to deploy mass surveillance technology. As Dr. Patrick Breyer, Member of the European … [Read more...] about PACC pledges support of the International Chat Control Working Group
Encryption HRIA
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
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
