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
Government
PACC concerned with ‘deeply problematic’ Cybersecurity Bill C-26
The Government of Canada has introduced Bill C-26: An Act respecting cyber security, amending the Telecommunications Act and making consequential amendments to other Acts. In addition to granting the government sweeping new powers, the Bill's vague and permissive language jeopardizes the ability of privacy and access practitioners to fulfill their professional … [Read more...] about PACC concerned with ‘deeply problematic’ Cybersecurity Bill C-26
PACC president appears before Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics
On June 9, 2022, PACC president Sharon Polsky MAPP spoke before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics. She was invited to provide expert testimony in relation to the Committee's study of the use of facial recognition and other digital technologies by police in Canada. Ms Polsky's opening remarks were highlights of a detailed brief … [Read more...] about PACC president appears before Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics
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
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
How ‘online harms’ legislation undermines privacy
Consistent with legislative initiatives in Australia, the UK, Netherlands, and other countries, the Government of Canada has been working mightily to enact privacy-invasive encryption-busting legislation it says is necessary to protect against legal but "hurtful" online content. Despite sweeping criticism of Bill C-10 and its companion bill to address harmful content online, … [Read more...] about How ‘online harms’ legislation undermines privacy
