|
IPC Privacy & Access by Design Winter 2011/12 | January: Milestone Month for the IPC
| Published Date |
 |
Dec 13, 2011 |
|
|
 |
The IPC is going silver. 2012 represents a special anniversary: 25 years since Ontario's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act was passed, and our agency opened its doors with a modest staff of three people under the leadership of Justice Sidney Linden. We’ve come a long way and we’re celebrating!
First established as an independent oversight “watchdog” agency to ensure that government organizations complied with the Act, the early IPC launched appeals from people who were refused the information they requested from government organizations, and investigated privacy complaints.
|
| Read More |
|
 |
 |
|
|
Milestone Month for the IPC
The IPC is going silver. 2012 represents a special anniversary: 25 years since Ontario's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act was passed, and our agency opened its doors with a modest staff of three people under the leadership of Justice Sidney Linden. We’ve come a long way and we’re celebrating!
First established as an independent oversight “watchdog” agency to ensure that government organizations complied with the Act, the early IPC launched appeals from people who were refused the information they requested from government organizations, and investigated privacy complaints.
The provincial Act applied to ministries and most agencies, boards, and commissions. Then in January, 1991, the newly-enacted Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act covered Ontario’s extensive array of municipal institutions.
And the best was yet to come! After years of advocacy, November, 2004 ushered in the enactment of the landmark Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA). This health privacy law applied to all individuals and organizations involved in the delivery of health care services – both public and private sectors – to ensure the protection of personal health information of patients. The IPC was appointed oversight of this legislation and we are pleased that in the seven years since its enactment, we have needed to issue only 11 health Orders.
Universities were subsequently brought under the FIPPA in June, 2006.
Now another long-awaited access to information milestone is fast approaching. For the first time, hospitals are being brought under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act beginning January, 2012. Historically excluded, they will now enjoy a new culture of greater transparency and accountability.
Just around the corner on January 28 is International Privacy Day, marking 31 years since the first binding international convention of privacy came into force. To recognize this occasion we will be hosting a symposium called Beware of "Surveillance by Design:" The Threat of Looming “Lawful Access” Legislation, debating the implications of impending federal “lawful access” legislation, which, if passed, would pose a real danger of warrantless expanded surveillance that is not conducive to our vision of democratic rights and freedoms. The event is being held at the MaRS Discovery District on January 27 at 9:00 a.m. and features eminent speakers Dr. Ron Deibert, Nathalie Des Rosiers, David Fraser and John Ibbitson who are sure to raise awareness of this issue which has become a hot topic of debate. This will kick-start the IPC’s 25th Anniversary celebrations throughout 2012.
|
Privacy by Design … South of the Border
This past fall, I participated in the 33rd International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners in Mexico City. I look forward to this annual gathering; it is an opportunity to interact with more than 700 top privacy professionals representing data protection authorities from all over the world.
Since last year, Privacy by Design (PbD) has been recognized as an international standard in privacy protection. I was truly moved by the number of times our made-in-Ontario solution was cited at the conference. Everywhere, people told me how they were noting and acting upon PbD; how far and wide PbD has spread. It was clear that my Office had succeeded in promoting embedding privacy in the design of IT, business practices, and networked infrastructures. PbD has gone viral.
As I did the previous three years, I held a pre-conference workshop – this one focused on Privacy by Redesign, an innovative extension of PbD, which encourages embedding privacy into already-existing mature and legacy systems.
Attendance at the workshop exceeded all expectations (standing room only!) and world-class experts generously shared their best ideas and practices. (Speakers are listed at, http://privacybydesign.ca/events/past/).
In another session, I described the past year’s developments in PbD – including the landmark Resolution passed unanimously at last year’s conference, recognizing PbD as an essential component of fundamental privacy protection. I shared my report, Privacy by Design: Strong Privacy Protection — Now, and Well into the Future, which highlights PbD applications by key players in the privacy sphere.
I also chaired an impressive panel, “Privacy by Design in the Public Sector” with exceptional panel members: Peter Hustinx, European Data Protection Supervisor; Mary Ellen Callahan, Chief Privacy Officer for the Department of Homeland Security; Tom Marinelli, Chief Technologist at the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG); and Jules Polonetsky, Director of the Future of Privacy Forum.
A session highlight was the collaborative work by the IPC and the OLG to embed a privacy-protective facial recognition solution that supports OLG customers enrolled in a completely voluntary self-exclusion program.
It was a successful conference – a wonderful interaction of very impressive minds – and a great opportunity to continue to spread the word of Privacy by Design. I look forward to next year’s conference and can only imagine what 2012 holds in store for the IPC in our 25th year!
Until the next issue of IPC Privacy & Access by Design, have a safe and happy winter, and Happy New Year from myself and everyone at the IPC!
Ann Cavoukian, Ph.D.
Information and Privacy Commissioner
Ontario, Canada
|
|
|
|
|
This email is directed only to those who have opted in to receive newsletters from the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario. Please view our Privacy Policy.
If you have any questions call us at 416.326.3333 / 1.800.387.0073, send us an email at info@ipc.on.ca, or write to us at: Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario, 2 Bloor St. East, Suite 1400, Toronto, ON, M4W 1A8.
© 2011 Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario. All rights reserved. IPC, Privacy by Design and related trademarks, names, and logos are the property of the Information and Privacy Commissioner and are registered and/or used in Canada, the U.S. and countries around the world. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
|
|
|
<<
Back |
|
|