News Release
Privacy Commissioner awards $371,590 to non-profit organizations for research into the privacy impact of emerging technologies
Ottawa, January 27, 2005 – The Privacy Commissioner of Canada, Jennifer Stoddart, is pleased to announce the awarding of $371,590, under the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada's (OPC) Contributions Program, launched in June 2004, to support non-profit organizations, including universities, advocacy organizations and trade associations in conducting research into the privacy impact of emerging technologies.
"Canadians are becoming increasingly aware of privacy threats in an age of global and inter-organizational transmission of personal information. This is the first time the Office of the OPC has launched a program to enhance knowledge in addressing those concerns, by building strong links between the research community and privacy rights practitioners in Canada," said Ms. Stoddart.
The Office was so impressed by the quality of the submissions that an additional $171,590, over and above the original $200,000 allotted, was allocated to the program to support the development of expertise in key areas of privacy and data protection, and to foster an understanding of the social value of privacy and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) in addressing emerging issues.
"This program represents a milestone in the development of national privacy research capacity in Canada. I wish to thank each and every organization who applied to this program for their thought provoking and innovative proposals, said Ms. Stoddart.
Funded Projects
Canadian Marketing Association
Toronto, Ontario |
Taking Privacy to the Next Level
Assess and develop privacy best practices to assist businesses in better handling customer personal information under PIPEDA |
$50,000 |
École nationale d'administration publique (ENAP)
Québec, Québec |
Study on the use of video surveillance cameras in Canada
Perceptions, issues, privacy impact and best practices on the use of video surveillance |
$50,000 |
Queen's University
Kingston, Ontario |
Location Technologies: Mobility, Surveillance and Privacy
Trends and stated and implicit purposes of technology with workers, consumers, travelers and citizens |
$49,972 |
The B.C. Freedom of Information and Privacy Association
Vancouver, British Columbia |
PIPEDA & Identify Theft: Solutions for Protecting Canadians
Gap analysis on weaknesses in personal information management practices that lead to identity theft and policy recommendations for PIPEDA implementation |
$49,775 |
Universities of Alberta and Victoria
Edmonton, Alberta
Victoria, British Columbia |
Electronic Health Records and PIPEDA
Implementation of PIPEDA in the health care sector and application to electronic health records in the primary care setting |
$49,600 |
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario |
A review of Internet privacy statements and on-line practices
Evaluation of implementation of PIPEDA and privacy statements on the Internet by companies in the telecommunications, airline, banking and retail sectors
|
$48,300 |
University of Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia |
Location-Based Services: An Analysis of Privacy Implications in the Canadian Context
Privacy implications of geographic location-based services — issues raised and major challenges and guidance to encourage compliance
|
$27,390 |
Option Consommateurs
Montréal, Québec
|
The challenge of consumer identification with new methods of electronic payment
Current and new proposed methods of identification of consumers for electronic payment and risk factors
|
$17,100 |
Simon Fraser University
Vancouver, British Columbia |
Privacy Rights and Prepaid Communications Services: Assessing the Anonymity Question
Justification and feasibility of regulatory measures to eliminate the sale of anonymous prepaid communications services in Canada
|
$14,850 |
Dalhousie University
Halifax, Nova Scotia |
An Analysis of Legal and Technological Privacy Implications of Radio Frequency Identification Technologies
Study of RFID technology and privacy impact and legal measures to protect privacy
|
$14,603 |
David H. Flaherty, a prominent privacy expert and member of the Office's External Advisory Committee looks forward to the results of the projects.
"I commend the OPC on the selection of an impressive range of important research initiatives that will be a key factor in Canada's contribution to the global debate on how best to protect personal information in an age of privacy-invasive technologies," said Mr. Flaherty.
The funded projects are expected to be completed in 2005. The OPC intends to organize a national conference to assist in the dissemination of the results of this research.
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For more information, please contact:
Renée Couturier
Director, Public Education and Communications
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
Tel: (613) 995-0103
E-mail: rcouturier@privcom.gc.ca
www.privcom.gc.ca
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