| The US Secure Flight Program has garnered much public concern and disapproval in Canada, where many Canadians are finding themselves subject to the controversial regulations when flying over US airspace. Aviation security is a high priority issue for the Canadian federal Privacy Commissioner, who earlier this year carried out an investigation of airport security scanners being installed in Canadian airports. While security is an issue in the aviation industry, the Privacy Commissioner, along with other privacy watchdogs, insist that security measures must also respect the privacy and personal dignity of travelers in Canadian [...] According to the OPC (Office of the Privacy Commissioner), the concept of identity is defined simply as how a person is known, either by other people, or by an organization. An individual’s identity is a distinguishing set of information that may vary from context to context. For instance, family and friends may identify a person by certain traits; an employer might identify a person by role, skill or position; and a service provider might identify a person by a unique identification number. This article examines identity concepts and identity management systems that citizens come in contact with on a daily basis, as well as the possibility of a national identity [...] In recent years, RFID (radio frequency identification) has caught the attention of privacy watchdogs, civil organizations and the general public. Its ability to identify and track items as well as individuals raises a number of privacy and security concerns, while the potential for integration into numerous contexts has increased with the development of technology. Discussion and integration of RFID in the workplace, retail situations and other environments should be informed by a number of privacy-respecting practices that will be explored in this [...] The introduction of Bills C-46 and C-47 in Canada sparked concern regarding the role of the federal government and other authorities to expand surveillance and increase investigation of the Canadian public. The bills were tabled June 2009 and continue to be met with much concern. This article will elaborate on the significant aspects of each bill, with an eye to some of the potential privacy concerns that may be [...] Youth privacy is increasingly important, especially in light of how young people adeptly integrate the Internet and online serves into their daily lives. Under the United Nations 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child, privacy is a basic human right for everyone under the age of 18. In the United States, the FTC passed the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act in 1998, specifically protecting children under age 13. Canadian privacy legislation – the PIPEDA and the Privacy Act – also ensure that children’s privacy is protected in the private and public spheres. The Canadian Privacy Commissioner has made youth privacy one of the issues to focus on for [...] Canadian Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs) identify potential privacy threats that exist in new or revamped federal government programs or services. The objective of the assessment is to eliminate or reduce privacy or security threats. All federal departments, agencies and institutions are obliged to conduct PIAs for any programs or services that may raise privacy concerns. As part of the process, the department must examine and asses the procedures for protection of personal information throughout the program’s lifecycle (i.e. collection, storage, usage, disclosure and [...] In March 1996, the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) published the Model Code for the Protection of Personal Information. Canada was the first country in the world to establish a voluntary, national standard for personal information protection. The Model Code was largely based on the Guidelines Governing the Protection of Privacy and Transborder Flows of Personal Data, created by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). While the Code remains a voluntary standard, it enjoys strong support and endorsement by a variety of Canadian companies as the national standard on privacy [...] In addition to Canadian Federal privacy legislation – the Privacy Act and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, or PIPEDA – a number of Canadian provinces have also established their own substantially similar privacy statutes. Organizations operating in these provinces must respect the provincial legislation with respect to the collection, use or disclosure of personal information as well as the other federal regulations. Provincial & Territorial Privacy Laws As Canada’s privacy protection model takes a co-regulatory approach, a number of provinces and territories have established legislation with respect to the collection, use or disclosure of personal information within private sector [...] The Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) is a Canadian federal legislation governing the collection, use and disclosure of personal information by private sector organizations. It also regulates the use of electronic documents while supporting e-commerce. About the PIPEDA The PIPEDA was enacted on April 13, 2000 in order to promote and support consumers in e-commerce. The PIPEDA was based on the Canadian Standards Association’s Model Code for the Protection of Personal Information. It also intended to reinforce the privacy protection mechanisms and practices which reflected European Union privacy directives. The PIPEDA was implemented in a number of phases over [...] The Privacy Commissioner of Canada is an officer of Parliament responsible for investigating violations against the Privacy Act (1983) and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, or PIPEDA (2000). The Privacy Commissioner and those assisting the Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC) act as advocates for Canadians’ privacy rights. The OPC takes and investigates privacy violations and brings citizens’ concerns to the federal government. Like all federal government agencies, the OPC is funded through the Treasury Board Secretariat, which enables it to fulfill its responsibilities under the Privacy Act as well as the [...] | |
