The province香蕉视频直播檚 new Information and Privacy Commissioner has been travelling across British Columbia, listening to residents as he develops a strategic plan to guide his office香蕉视频直播檚 future work.
Michael Harvey, appointed in May 2024, leads both the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (OIPC) and the Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists.
One of seven stops, Kelowna hosted a public session on May 27, that brought together representatives from municipal government, healthcare and education sectors, community groups, and non-profit organizations. The discussion covered a wide range of issues香蕉视频直播攆rom public trust and digital surveillance to the question of who香蕉视频直播檚 responsible for protecting personal data.
香蕉视频直播淭his is part of our public engagement sessions to get people香蕉视频直播檚 feedback and perspectives,香蕉视频直播� Harvey said. 香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e developing ideas that we香蕉视频直播檒l release香蕉视频直播攈opefully in early fall香蕉视频直播攁s a strategic plan to guide the work of our offices.香蕉视频直播�
A Province-Wide Conversation
Harvey says he香蕉视频直播檚 hearing recurring concerns, including frustration with the Freedom of Information system, growing data collection, and questions about the influence of artificial intelligence.
Video surveillance is also drawing scrutiny香蕉视频直播攅specially at the municipal level. 香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 a lot of attention on it there,香蕉视频直播� Harvey noted, though it's not exclusive to local governments.
Trust in a Digital World
One theme that has surfaced consistently across the province is trust, or the erosion of it.
香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 a literature in political science that talks about the decline of trust going back for generations,香蕉视频直播� Harvey said. 香蕉视频直播淚t ties into the rise of television, cable news, and now the internet,香蕉视频直播� he said.
In Kelowna, participants raised concerns about who is collecting their data, how it香蕉视频直播檚 being used, and whether they can trust the information they香蕉视频直播檙e receiving. Harvey says these anxieties are shared across the communities he香蕉视频直播檚 visited.
Who香蕉视频直播檚 Watching Whom?
It香蕉视频直播檚 a recurring question Harvey noted. 香蕉视频直播淚s too much personal data being collected香蕉视频直播攁nd by whom?香蕉视频直播�
While he encourages individuals to understand and exercise their privacy rights, he says the burden shouldn香蕉视频直播檛 fall entirely on them.
香蕉视频直播淵es, we need higher rates of data literacy,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淲e should be teaching it in an age-appropriate way throughout our education system. But we also need to build stronger guardrails around how organizations and governments handle personal data.香蕉视频直播�
B.C.'s Strong Privacy Laws香蕉视频直播擶ith Room to Grow
Harvey says B.C. stands out in terms of privacy protection.
香蕉视频直播淏.C.香蕉视频直播檚 legislation sets a high bar香蕉视频直播攊n terms of both scope and strength,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 part of why I wanted this job.香蕉视频直播�
Still, he believes many British Columbians don香蕉视频直播檛 realize how well-protected they already are.
香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 part of the outreach goal that I set. I think if they understood the strength of protection that they have, maybe that would help the trust issue.香蕉视频直播�
Harvey also pointed out that B.C.香蕉视频直播檚 privacy protection laws are far from perfect.
香蕉视频直播淭hey need to change to keep up to changing demands,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚'll keep pushing for improvements, but I think that the people of this province should be happy to know that the laws that they have are solid laws and that they're well protected.香蕉视频直播�
A Legacy of Advocacy
Harvey credits both political will and a long tradition of advocacy for the strength of B.C.香蕉视频直播檚 privacy and data laws.
香蕉视频直播淵es, the legislature had to pass these laws,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淏ut there香蕉视频直播檚 also been a strong history of commissioners, going all the way back to the mid-1990s when David Flaherty was the first commissioner. He was a giant in privacy circles and the inspiration for a lot of this work.香蕉视频直播�
That legacy continues today through scholars, institutions, and organizations like the Freedom of Information and Privacy Association (FIPA).
香蕉视频直播淚 think it reflects the sophisticated way people in this province think about access, privacy, and their rights,香蕉视频直播� Harvey added.
What the Commissioner Actually Does
Harvey said there are four main areas of work his office handles.
Quasi-judicial role: 香蕉视频直播淲e investigate complaints, can issue orders with the force of law, and even impose monetary penalties in lobbying transparency cases. We also initiate our own investigations.香蕉视频直播�
Education and outreach: 香蕉视频直播淲e raise public awareness and provide information. That香蕉视频直播檚 why I香蕉视频直播檓 out here doing these workshops.香蕉视频直播�
Research: 香蕉视频直播淲e conduct our own research and encourage others to explore privacy and access issues relevant to our mandate.香蕉视频直播�
Policy and legislation: 香蕉视频直播淲e comment on new laws, propose legislative reforms, and review privacy impact assessments from public bodies and organizations.香蕉视频直播�
More Work Ahead
While optimistic, Harvey says his office still has work to do in promoting privacy rights and building public awareness.
香蕉视频直播淚 think there香蕉视频直播檚 more to be done in helping people understand what our office does, the mandates we have, and how they can exercise their rights,香蕉视频直播� he said.
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