Volume II

Issue : 22: November 18, 2004

• European Court of Justice Releases Decisions on Scope of Database Protection
• Idaho Obtains Judgement to Permanently Ban Fax Spammer from State
• UPS and Other Couriers File Suit against Maines Tobacco Sales Law
• Indian Supreme Court Finds Computer Software a Good not a Service
• FCC VoIP Ruling Removes Regulatory Power from the States
• Privacy Commissioner of Canada releases Annual Report
• Dow Jones Settling Internet Defamation Case by Gutnick
• B.C. Privacy Commissioner Releases Report on U.S. PATRIOT Act
• Ontario Judge Awards Significant Damages in Cyber libel Case
• WTO Report Finds U.S. in Breach of GATS over Online Gambling Dispute
• Judge Finds Content from the Internet Archive Website Admissible

Home > Volume II > Issue 22: November 18, 2004 > B.C. Privacy Commissioner Releases Report on U.S. PATRIOT Act

B.C. Privacy Commissioner Releases Report on U.S. PATRIOT Act

After months of anticipation, the B.C. Information and Privacy Commissioner has released his report on the U.S. PATRIOT Act (the U.S anti-terrorism legislation which makes it easier for US authorities to access personal information in the course of their investigations).

The report was triggered by the B.C. government's intention to outsource the province's Medical Service Plan to a U.S.-linked contractor, and a government union's concern that sensitive health information could end up in the hands of U.S. authorities.

The report contains 16 recommendations to government. Most of the recommendations pertain to the public-sector privacy legislation; however, the Commissioner's views and recommendations regarding security of personal information are relevant to the private sector as well. For example, the Commissioner believes there should be a temporary ban on sending personal information outside of Canada for management, storage or safekeeping (at least for public sector organizations) until rigorous legislative, contractual and practical security measures are put in place.

The full report is available here:

http://www.oipcbc.org/sector_public/usa_patriot_act/pdfs/report/privacy-final.pdf

A summary of the report is available here:

http://www.oipcbc.org/sector_public/usa_patriot_act/pdfs/report/privacy-final%20summary.pdf