Commissioner’s Blog | Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario

La commissaire à l'information et à la protection de la vie privée, Patricia Kosseim, pose pour une photo sur un pont, avec des arbres en arrière-plan.

Commissioner’s Blog

Dive into Commissioner Kosseim’s insightful blogs covering privacy, access, cyber safety, and beyond. Stay informed and explore the latest insights.

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Showing 55 - 63 of 246 results

It’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Read Twice, Click Once

News of cyberattacks continues to dominate headlines across the country. From individual instances of identity theft to large-scale ransomware attacks involving millions of people, these malicious assaults on our personal data systems show no sign of abating. As their tactics become more...

Published on Oct 15, 2020

Right to Know Week: Putting access rights in the spotlight

This is my first Right to Know Week as Ontario’s Information and Privacy Commissioner. I am excited to join my fellow commissioners from across the country in raising awareness about access rights and freedom of information from September 28 to October 4. Freedom of information is essential to...

Published on Oct 15, 2020

Back to School … well, sort of

After what some parents have called ‘the longest Spring Break ever,’ September is here, and schools across the province are re-opening their doors, in part. It’s been heartening to see kids smiling from ear to ear, even with their masks on, eager to see their friends and teachers again. The courage...

Published on Oct 15, 2020

Good Governance will be the Key to Delivering on the Promise of Body-Worn Cameras

On Tuesday, August 18, the Toronto Police Service Board approved the purchase of 2350 body worn cameras (BWC) for its front line officers. The board also passed a motion directing the Toronto Police Service (TPS) to consult with the IPC on accountability and privacy measures to be included in its...

Published on Aug 21, 2020

Has the Time Come for a Private Sector Privacy Law in Ontario?

Yesterday, the Ontario government released a discussion paper on improving private sector privacy for Ontarians in a digital age. The government is seeking input from Ontarians on a number of topics that many will recognize as being key ingredients of a modern privacy law in the private sector...

Published on Aug 14, 2020

COVID Alert and Your Privacy

Today, the COVID Alert exposure notification app was launched as an important digital tool to be used among other public health measures, to help control the spread of COVID-19 in Ontario. I commend the robust safeguards the government has put in place to protect the privacy and security of...

Published on Jul 31, 2020

Divisional Court brings greater certainty and predictability to IPC decisions

Last week, the Divisional Court rendered a decision in Brockville (City) v. IPC that will likely have far-reaching impact for all stakeholders seeking to challenge my office’s access to information orders before the courts. This is Ontario’s first FOI judicial review decision post-Vavilov. While the...

Published on Jul 27, 2020

A whole new kind of “homework”: Ensuring access and privacy rights from the hearth

The new work-from-home reality hit many of us like a ton of bricks - bricks and mortar, that is. From a usual Friday afternoon at our office desks, surrounded by familiar people and things... to a Monday morning email instructing us to stay home for the sake of our own health and safety. With no...

Published on Jul 23, 2020

Supreme Court decision lifts the cloud on genetic testing

Last week the Supreme Court of Canada confirmed Canadians' rights to undergo genetic testing without fear they may be forced to disclose the results to others and suffer discriminatory treatment based on a genetic condition they might find. On July 10, the Court upheld the constitutionality of the...

Published on Jul 21, 2020

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