Privacy means different things to different people around the world; what is considered private in one culture might not be in the next. However, the ability to choose when identity and personal information is revealed and when it’s not is a value all humans hold. In the digital age, this sense of control over privacy is even more uncertain.
Luckily, there are some great resources available to learn more about privacy law.
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
Here you can find in-depth information about privacy in all areas of life. There is a wealth of information and resources to be found. Information is available for individuals, youth, government employees, people in the private sector, and people in legal fields.
Some of the resources include Factsheets, like:
– How to Comply with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act
– Privacy on the Go: 10 Tips for Individuals on Protecting Personal Information on Mobile Devices
– What Canadians Can Do to Protect Their Personal Information Transferred Across Borders
As well as other information covering a variety of topics, like:
– Build a privacy plan for your business;
– Protect yourself from spam;
– Gaming consoles and personal information: playing with privacy.
There is also a section of Frequently Asked Questions to find more about the role of the Privacy Commissioner, or you can see LawNow’s article “Privacy in Canada” where author Rob Normey talks to Jill Clayton, the Privacy Commissioner for the Province of Alberta, and Ann Cavoukian, the Privacy Commissioner for the Province of Ontario.
This is a site by the Office of the Privacy Commission that has information for youth about online privacy. Resources include:
– a video called “What can YOU do to protect your online rep?”
– a graphic novel called “Social Smarts: Privacy, the Internet, and You”;
– links; and
– a blog;
While the website is developed for youth, it also has a special section of resources for parents and teachers including a tip sheet with 12 Quick Privacy Tips for Parents, and lessons plans on Privacy and Online Life for grades 7 and 8 and The Privacy Dilemma for grades 9 to 12.
More Resources About Privacy Law
If that still isn’t enough privacy information for you, you can visit LawCentral Canada. There you will find many more resources relating to privacy in Canada as well as province-specific information and contacts.