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Privacy Law for Network Administrators. Steven Penney Faculty of Law University of New Brunswick. Overview. Criminal Code Public sector privacy legislation Private sector privacy legislation Sector-specific legislation. Criminal Code. Interception and seizure of private communications.
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Privacy Law for Network Administrators Steven Penney Faculty of Law University of New Brunswick
Overview • Criminal Code • Public sector privacy legislation • Private sector privacy legislation • Sector-specific legislation
Interception and seizure of private communications • Prohibitions • Wire-to-wire communications • Wireless (radio-based) communications • Systems manager exception (quality control, unauthorized use, mischief) • Interception (wiretap) warrants • Content • Routing (“envelope”) data • Search and seizure warrants • 3d party production orders
Public sector privacy legislation • Privacy Act • “Personal information” under control of a “government institution” • Provincial legislation
PIPEDA Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act
History • EU Directive (1995) • “adequate level of protection” • CSA Model Code (1996) • Phased implementation • Full effect January 1, 2004
Jurisdiction • Commercial activities (federal & provincial) • Employee information (federal only) • Exemptions • Privacy Act • Personal or domestic purposes • “substantially similar” provincial statutes (intra-provincial information only)
Overview • Personal information • Privacy principles • Oversight and enforcement
Personal Information • Definition • “information about an identifiable individual . . . [except] the name, title or business address or telephone number of an employee of an organization” • Intimacy not required • Collection v. generation irrelevant • Anonymity and aggregation
Interpretive tools • Schedule (“shall” v. “should”) (s. 5(2)) • Reasonableness (s. 5(3)) • “An organization may collect, use or disclose personal information only for purposes that a reasonable person would consider are appropriate in the circumstances.”
Accountability • Designated person • 3d party transfers • Mere processing (contractual protections) • Disclosure (must comply with Act)
Notice of purposes • New purposes
Informed consent • No conditions for non-essential information • e.g. “no SIN, no connection” • Form of consent • Sensitivity of information • Express v. implied • “Opt-in” v. “opt-out” • Withdrawal of consent • Subject to legal and contractual restrictions
Exceptions to consent • Collection • Interests of person and consent can’t be obtained • Investigation of breach of contract or law • Journalistic, artistic, or literary purpose • Publicly available and in regulations • Use • Investigation of breach of law • Health or security emergency • Statistical or scholarly research (restrictions) • Publicly available and in regulations • Collected under ss. 7(1)(a) or (b)
Exceptions to consent con’t • Disclosure • Organization’s lawyer • Debt collection • Court order • Law enforcement and national security (where legal entitlement) • Investigation of breach of contract or law (to or by investigative body) • Health or security emergency • Statistical or scholarly research (restrictions) • Archives • 100 years or 20 years after death • Publicly available and in regulations • Compliance with law
Limiting collection • Only for identified purposes
Limiting use, disclosure and retention • No additional purposes without consent • Retain only for as long as necessary to fulfill purpose for which information collected • Retain long enough to enable access to information used for decision • Guidelines and procedures encouraged, including minimum and maximum retention periods
Accuracy • Accurate, complete, and up-to-date
Safeguards • Loss or theft, unauthorized access, etc. • Measures vary with sensitivity of information • Technological measures (e.g. encryption) • Employee training
Openness • Policies in readily accessible form • Contact information • Means for access to information • General description of types of information held
Access • Confirmation of existence • Right of review • Disclosure of information to third parties (list) • Minimal or no cost • Due diligence and time limits • Amendment and corrections
Exceptions to Access • 3d party information • Solicitor-client privilege • Confidential commercial information • Health or security of 3d party • Compromise legal investigation • Information generated from formal dispute resolution process • Notification of access request to government for law enforcement (government veto)
Challenging compliance • Procedures and notification • Duty to investigate • Appropriate remedies
Privacy Commissioner • Complaints • PC’s power to initiate • Investigative powers and mediation • Reports (confidentiality and shaming) • Audits • Education, research, and compliance assistance
Federal Court • Complainant • Privacy Commissioner • Remedies
Provincial Legislation • Non-commercial • Employees in provincial sector • Commissioners’ order-making powers • Jurisdictional issues