2016

News

Privacy Commissioner publishes responses to its consultation on consent and privacy

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) posted, earlier this week, the 51 submissions it received in response to its consultation on consent under the Personal Information and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). The consultation is looking to identify improvements to the current consent model currently challenged. I have submitted my comments as part of this […] Read more

News

Cyber Risk Management : Regulatory Guidance from the Canadian Securities Administrators

On September 27, 2016, the Canadian Securities Administrators released an updated cyber security notice to emphasize the need for financial market participants to proactively manage cyber risks and prepare for cybersecurity incidents, and to remind issuers to provide detailed and specific disclosures of material cyber risks in prospectuses and continuous disclosure filings. The notice provides important […] Read more

News

2015-2016 Annual Report to Parliament on the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act and the Privacy Act

Today the Privacy Commissioner’s latest Annual Report was tabled, in Parliament. The 2015-16 report describes the work of the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) as it relates to both the Privacy Act, which applies to the federal public sector, and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), the federal private sector privacy law. The Report discusses the […] Read more

News

Exploring Canada’s Top Privacy Challenges – Summary Report of the Canadian Privacy Summit 2016

The Conference Board of Canada and the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of British Columbia co-hosted the inaugural Canadian Privacy Summit on April 13–14, 2016, in Vancouver, British Columbia. It brought together many of Canada’s foremost privacy experts from the public and private sectors in a wide-ranging conversation about the nature of privacy […] Read more

News

Ashley Madison Security Breach: Lessons Learned and Valuable Recommendations for all Businesses

On August 22, 2016, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) released an important joint investigation report regarding the Ashley Madison data breach, which exposed the personal information of some 32 million users of the online dating website marketed to people who are married or in committed relationships. As part of its investigation, […] Read more

News

FPF Releases Best Practices for Consumer Wearables and Wellness Apps and Devices

The Future of Privacy Forum (FPF) announced yesterday the release of its Best Practices for Consumer Wearables and Wellness Apps and Devices, a detailed set of guidelines that responsible companies can follow to ensure they provide practical privacy protections for consumer-generated health and wellness data. I have been following these guidelines very closely over the last few […] Read more

News

Keeping records of consent under CASL

The CRTC has recently released a Notice for businesses and individuals advising them on how to keep records of consent. The CRTC confirms that under section 13 of CASL, the onus is on the person who alleges they have consent to send a CEM (typically, the person who sends the CEM) to prove that they have proper consent, either implied […] Read more

News

Cyber Risk Management: Legal Privilege Strategy – Part 2 of 2

An organization’s cyber risk management activities may result in sensitive communications and documents that the organization’s personnel expect will remain confidential. Nevertheless, in many circumstances an organization may be legally obligated to disclose those communications and documents unless the organization is able to assert a legal right – called “legal privilege” – to not make […] Read more

News

Cyber Risk Management: Legal Privilege Strategy – Part 1 of 2

An organization’s cyber risk management activities may result in sensitive communications and documents that the organization’s personnel expect will remain confidential. Nevertheless, in many circumstances an organization may be legally obligated to disclose those communications and documents unless the organization is able to assert a legal right – called “legal privilege” – to not make […] Read more

News

Privacy class actions pose threat

Kim Arnott from the Lawyers Weekly published an interested story entitled “Privacy class actions pose threat – Data breach could spur lawsuit“ (at p. 14) in the latest issue of Forensic Accounting & Fraud, (distributed with The Lawyers Weekly and The Bottom Line). I was interviewed for this article, and I discuss how the growing risk […] Read more