18th International Conference of Privacy and Data Protection Commissioners

Ottawa, Ontario

September 18 - 2O, 1996

1. What is the Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners Conference?

The conference, which began almost twenty years ago as an informal annual meeting of Western European data protection and privacy commissioners, has evolved into an annual event to exchange information, share experiences and examine the privacy implications of new trends, techniques and technologies.

The 1996 conference expects to attract about 3OO provincial, territorial and foreign commissioners, government and industry representatives and privacy protection advocates from around the world. This will be the first opportunity to attract a sizeable North American contingent, as well as participants from other countries interested in the North American approach to data protection.

The most recent conferences took place in Copenhagen, the Hague, Manchester and Sydney.

The Privacy Commissioner of Canada will host the 1996 conference in Ottawa, September 18 to 2O, 1996.

2. What is a Data Protector or Privacy Commissioner?

The commissioners enforce or oversee compliance with laws which regulate government (and, frequently, private business) collection, use and disclosure of personal information about their citizens, employees and clients. These laws are based on such internationally accepted privacy protection principles as the 1981 Council of Europe Convention or the 198O Guidelines issued by the organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Data protection or privacy legislation generally focuses on safeguarding a person's rights to remain anonymous, to the greatest degree possible, and to control who has access to his/her personal information. of course, the laws must also consider such competing interests as administering national social programs, maintaining law and order, and protecting the rights and freedoms of others.

Sometimes these laws may conflict with the commercial interests of such industry sectors as banking or insurance.

The commissioners, who are normally independent from their government, generally are responsible for investigating complaints from citizens, employees or clients who allege that their rights under the legislation have been breached. As well, commissioners frequently comment on or advise government and private businesses on maintaining the delicate balance between privacy legislation and any competing interests. This may include commenting on new legislation which may affect individual rights under the data protection or privacy law.

3. What are the plans for the 1996 Conference?

The first two full days of the conference will be open to all participants and consist of presentations and panel discussions. While the program is not yet complete, some topics likely to be debated are:

• the new European Union Directive on the protection of data and privacy, and its impact on North American businesses;
• increasing surveillance of individuals, including workplace monitoring and the use of information relating to a person's whereabouts;
• international developments in data protection and privacy legislation; privacy and selected Canadian private sector industries.

The last day is closed and provides commissioners and staff with a forum to exchange views on administrative, legal and policy issues common to their operations.

For further information on the 1996 Conference, please contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.

Speaker's List

"STORMY WEATHER: CONFLICTING FORCES IN THE INFORMATION SOCIETY"
Ursula Franklin
September 19th, 1996.

"LE VILLAGE GLOBAL: ENJEUX ET PROBLÈMES"
Madame Isabelle Jaulin, avocat au barreau de Paris
(membre de la Commission Nationale de l'Informatique et des Libertés) September 19th, 1996. (French version only)

"INFORMATION HIGHWAY ADVISORY COUNCIL STATEMENT
Professor David Johnston (Chair, Information Highway Advisory Council)
September 19th, 1996.

"LEGAL AND ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS OF BIOTECHNOLOGIES"
Bartha Maria Knoppers, LL.D.
September 19th, 1996.

"PRIVACY SOLUTIONS AND OTHER OPTIONS"
Kevin O'Connor, Privacy Commissioner of Australia
September 19th, 1996.

"PRIVACY, GULAGS AND WESTERN POLICIES ON ILLEGAL DRUGS"
Eugene Oscapella, B.A., LL.B., LL.M. (Barristor and Solicitor)
September 19th, 1996.

"NOTES FOR AN ADDRESS"
Honorable Allan Rock, P.C., Q.C., M.P (Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada)
September 18th, 1996.

"BIOMETRIC ENCRYPTION"
Dr. George J. Tomko
September 19th, 1996.