Summary of PIPEDA amendments from Library of Parliament

Michel-Adrien Sheppard at Library Boy blog links to a new publication of the Library of Parliament, summarizing Bill C-29, also known as the PIPEDA amendments: Library Boy: Library of Parliament Legislative Summary of Amendments to Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act.

Tracking digital shadows

Today's Montreal Gazette has an interesting article on the data trail that people generate day-to-day.

Tracking digital shadows

"It's the sort of trail that you may not be aware of, because you don't have physical contact with the machine that may be collecting the information," said Colin Mc-Kay, the director of research, education and outreach with the office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.

"There are a large number of data points that you leave in your daily life that don't necessarily identify you, but certainly identify your behaviours, your preferences and the choices you make."

Former Commissioner Phillips receives Order of Canada

Former Federal Privacy Commissioner Bruce Phillips was awarded the Order of Canada earlier this month. Here's a profile and interview: Chronicle Journal - Stories - A Life's Work Honoured.

NYT editorial on tracking kids

I blogged last week about California schools tracking preschoolers with RFID. Now the New York Times has an editorial condemning the practice. The big issue comes down to this:

Editorial - Keeping Track of the Kids - NYTimes.com Though it may seem innocuous to attach a chip to our preschoolers’ clothes, do we really want to raise a generation of kids that are accustomed to being tracked, like cattle or warehouse inventory?

Privacy commissioner’s fate up in the air

In today's Vancouver Sun, Sarah Schmidt writes on the uncertainty about the reappointment of Federal Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart. This has been a subject of much speculation among privacy professionals over the last year, which was intensified when Liz Denham was appointed Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia. Mme. Stoddart's term is up in November and it is unclear whether the Harper government is planning to reappoint her. The author quotes the OPC's official spokesperson as saying that Mme. Stoddart stands ready to serve. See: Privacy commissioner’s fate up in the air.

Personal Health Information Act and health research

I have been invited to give a presentation to health researchers at Dalhousie, the IWK Health Centre and the Capital District Health Authority on the upcoming Personal Health Information Act and its impact on health research.

For any others who may be interested, here is the presentation:

The bill fell off the order paper of the Nova Scotia legislature when the house rose for the summer, but we are expecting it will be reintroduced sometime this fall.

The Cloud, Security & Standards

Check out Michael Power's new blog post: Michael Power � The Cloud, Security & Standards.

Correctional Service of Canada settles privacy lawsuit over leak of employee information to inmate

The Correctional Service of Canada has settled a privacy lawsuit brought by 366 staff members whose home addresses were leaked to an inmate. The settlement (below) provides a payment of $1000 per plaintiff, along with a separate fund for any employee who can prove psychological or psychiatric harm from the breach. See: Joyceville staff to get payment for privacy breach.

Settlement in $15 M lawsuit against Corrrections Canada

California preschoolers get RFID tracking chips

The San Jose Mercury News is reporting that at least one California school is using RFID chips to more efficiently warehouse, store and track preschoolers. See: California students get tracking devices - San Jose Mercury News.

Unsurprisingly, the ACLU has a different take on it: Don't Let Schools Chip Your Kids.

Conference: Introduction to the Personal Health Information Privacy and Access Act

The Privacy Law section of the Canadian Bar Association (New Brunswick) is organizing a one-day professional development event on the province's new health privacy legislation. The keynote speaker will be Anne Cavoukian, speaking on her experience with PHIPA in Ontario.

More details here: CBA - An Introduction to the Personal Health Information Privacy and Access Act.

Add the event to your calendar: .