The General Court of the European Union has annulled the European Commission’s decision to refuse access to text messages relating to COVID-19 vaccine negotiations, stating that doing so violated EU access to documents law and breached the principle of good administration. In early 2021, it was revealed that President von der Leyen had exchanged text messages with Pfizer CEO … [Read more...] about EU Court Rules Commission in Violation of Transparency Law Over von der Leyen–Pfizer Texts
Decisions
ECHR bans general weakening of secure end-to-end encryption
The European Court of Human Rights has banned a general weakening of secure end-to-end encryption, a move that could jeopardize Canada's international trade relations. The EU recently renewed Canada's adequacy status, an important measure to facilitate continued international trade and information sharing between Canada and European nations and companies, but proposed … [Read more...] about ECHR bans general weakening of secure end-to-end encryption
Elections: Political parties gathering and using information about voters
With Ontario elections taking place on June 2, some voters may question how provincial political parties use personal information. They may also wonder what federal parties have done with data that voters gave canvassers in the national election, held in September of 2021. In Ontario, the Privacy Commissioner has no jurisdiction over provincial political parties' … [Read more...] about Elections: Political parties gathering and using information about voters
Access at Issue
Canada’s information commissioner has released a highly critical report on the RCMP’s adherence to access-to-information law, and characterizes the RCMP's inability to meet statutory timeframes as "the norm, not an exception." The Commissioner describes the the situation as “critical" and cautions that it "may soon be past the point of no return, unless senior leaders … [Read more...] about Access at Issue
Commissioners agree with PACC that facial recognition without meaningful consent is problematic
In late July of 2018, an observant shopper at Calgary’s Chinook Centre mall saw an electronic wayfinding directory displaying computer code suggesting that facial recognition technology was being used in the display boards. Days later, PACC asked the Privacy Commissioner of Canada and the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta to investigate and determine … [Read more...] about Commissioners agree with PACC that facial recognition without meaningful consent is problematic
