Our goal is to champion the access and privacy rights of Ontario’s children and youth by promoting their digital literacy and the expansion of their digital rights while holding institutions accountable for protecting the children and youth they serve.
When signing up on behalf of their students, classroom educators may be agreeing to information management practices by educational service providers that are inconsistent with their school boards’ policies and not compliant with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
The report recommends that educators read privacy policies and terms of service carefully to understand how students’ information may be collected, used and disclosed, and to consult with school officials before selecting online educational services. Educators should also provide students with ongoing guidance on how to configure and use the educational services in privacy-enhancing ways.
Commissioner Brian Beamish presented his submission on Bill 89, Supporting Children, Youth and Families Act, 2017 to the Standing Committee on Justice Policy on Thursday, March 30, 2017.
Educators are using online educational services for student learning, communication and evaluation. While these services may be innovative, accessible and available at little or no cost, their use could put the privacy of students and their families at risk. Sometimes teachers use online services without approval from school administrators, who are responsible for the information management practices of their staff. School boards must ensure online services used by teachers are compliant with Ontario privacy law.
To offer guidance, the IPC has partnered with the Ontario Association of School Business Officials (OASBO) to publish a new brochure that offers information for educators about the potential privacy risks of online educational services. We have also created downloadable posters for use in staff rooms and offices to remind teachers to get approval before using these services.
This week, Assistant Commissioner Sherry Liang is representing the IPC at the 38th International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners, in Marrakesh, Morocco. The conference brings together data protection authorities from around the world to share knowledge and guidance on matters relating to data protection and privacy.
This year, the IPC co-sponsored the Resolution for the Adoption of an International Competency Framework on Privacy Education, which the international data protection authorities have endorsed. In consideration of the urgent need to educate children on data protection and privacy in today’s digital world, this resolution introduces a framework for governments to use to develop educational programs.
This resolution and framework will help raise awareness about this important issue and drive the need to include privacy and data protection in school curriculums around the world. This is a significant step in the effort to make privacy education for children and teenagers a standard practice.
As part of discussions around education, Assistant Commissioner Liang presented on the topic of Digital Education in Ontario, Canada, providing an overview of the IPC’s youth education tools, What Students Need to Know for grades 5, 10, and 11-12. These resources help students understand the risks of social media and the privacy-protective measures that can be taken to protect one’s self on the Internet.
Further resolutions adopted at the conference include Resolution on International Enforcement Cooperation (2016) and the Resolution on Developing New Metrics of Data Protection Regulation. All of the endorsed resolutions are on the conference website.
Common misunderstandings about privacy are frequently cited as reasons for not sharing information with a children’s aid society (CAS) about a child who may be at risk. In fact, Ontario law permits professionals working with children to share this information. To help professionals understand that privacy is not a barrier to disclosing this important information, the IPC and the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth created this guide.
Health providers, police, teachers, social service workers and other professionals sometimes cite privacy as the reason for refusing to disclose information to child protection workers. While well-intentioned, this refusal may leave a child in need of protection at risk of harm. Yes, You Can. Dispelling the Myths About Sharing Information with CAS clarifies common misunderstandings about privacy and reporting this information to the CAS. It underscores that, yes, professionals can disclose information to protect a child from potential harm and privacy should never stand in the way of sharing this information.
Today, in collaboration with the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth, we released a new guide to help professionals working with children understand that privacy legislation should not be a barrier to sharing information with a children’s aid society (CAS) about a child who may be at risk. In fact, Ontario law permits the disclosure of this important information.
Health providers, police, teachers, social service workers and other professionals sometimes cite privacy as the reason for refusing to disclose information to child protection workers. While well-intentioned, this refusal may leave a child in need of protection at risk of harm. Yes, You Can. Dispelling the Myths About Sharing Information with Children’s Aid Societies clarifies common misunderstandings about privacy and reporting this information to the CAS. It underscores that, yes, professionals can disclose information to protect a child from potential harm and privacy should never stand in the way of sharing this information.
We hope this guide will lead to Ontario CASs getting more of the important information they need to help children at risk.
