European Parliament's negotiators reached a broad majority agreement this week on a common position concerning the controversial EU chat control bill, which threatened to undermine privacy and encryption across the internet. The European Parliament’s position, agreed upon by all parties, removes indiscriminate bulk scanning and automated reporting of private messages … [Read more...] about EU Parliament Moves to Protect Privacy
Government
Voters left in the dark
Bill C-47 is a 408-page budget implementation bill tabled on March 28, 2023 that, as one might expect, addresses matters relating to taxation — from income tax, excise tax, and GST/HST, to increasing the air travelers security charge, and facilitating the sharing of information between the Minister of Finance, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial … [Read more...] about Voters left in the dark
NSICOP Spyware Study
Following an August 2022 study by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics on the topic of Device Investigation Tools Used by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) — aka spyware — further study was to be undertaken by the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP) NSICOP’s report, once tabled, … [Read more...] about NSICOP Spyware Study
Appearance before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics on its Study of the RCMP’s Use of Device Investigation Tools
PACC President Sharon Polsky MAPP appeared before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (ETHI) to take part in its study related to the use of device investigation tools by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Ms Polsky’s remarks addressed the use of Pegasus and other spyware by RCMP and other law enforcement … [Read more...] about Appearance before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics on its Study of the RCMP’s Use of Device Investigation Tools
3rd Review of the Treasury Board Directive on Automated Decision-Making
The rapid pace of digital transformation in the federal government has made questions around the purpose and scope of automation increasingly relevant. The 3rd review of the Treasury Board Directive on Automated Decision-Making takes stock of the current state of the policy instrument and identifies several risks and challenges to the federal government’s commitment to … [Read more...] about 3rd Review of the Treasury Board Directive on Automated Decision-Making
Personal Digital Devices at the Border
A great deal of consternation and confusion recently arose thanks to the language in a new piece of legislation introduced in the Senate on 29 March 2022. Bill S-7, which amends s. 99(1)(a) of the Customs Act, is intended to remedy a deficiency in that legislation which, until now, has had no specific criteria for searching personal digital devices. Indeed, the Customs … [Read more...] about Personal Digital Devices at the Border
