Your Access and Privacy Online News Summary for Saturday, July 25th. We are into the news doldrums of summer right now, that said there are still stories hitting our radar. This week: bridge records, surveillance pricing, paid priority access to Truth Social, and Vatican secrecy.  Writing: Shaun Fisk  | Production: Patrick Farnsworth  | Music: Breakmaster Cylinder Send comments to: FIPAOnline @ fipa.bc.ca […]

Your Access and Privacy Online News Summary for Saturday, July 18th. This week: FIPA calls for stronger federal privacy law; provinces narrow access to records; AI expansion tests energy, consent, and political accountability; and U.S. investigations raise new concerns for public records and press freedom.  Writing: Shaun Fisk  | Production: Patrick Farnsworth  | Music: Breakmaster Cylinder Send comments to: FIPAOnline […]

FIPA calls for stronger safeguards for privacy, consent, AI, and government data sharing  July 10, 2026 – The BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association (FIPA) has submitted its recommendations to the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat as part of the 2026 review of the Privacy Act. The following submission was drafted by FIPA and submitted to the Treasury Board […]

Your Access and Privacy Online News Summary for Saturday, July 11th. We’re back after a holiday break. This week: a lawsuit over the exposure of nearly three million Alberta voters, unanswered questions about overdoses inside B.C. hospitals, expanding surveillance in the United States, and a serious threat to Germany’s freedom of information law. Writing: Shaun Fisk  | […]

Your Access and Privacy Online News Summary for Saturday, June 27th. This week: transparency systems under scrutiny in B.C., new federal privacy and online safety proposals, whistleblower concerns from Montreal police, and major U.S. stories on public records, voter data, and law enforcement accountability.  And a quick reminder: House of Commons petition E-7237, calling for stronger […]

FIPA report calls for a new way to understand whether B.C.’s freedom of information system is working.  The Press Release The original press release: Transparency Systems Must Themselves Be Transparent Summary Recommendations The Full report The full report is available for download here: https://fipa.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/20260615-Drawing-Access-Together-An-Access-Assessments-Report.pdf.  Learn more

Your Access and Privacy Online News Summary for Saturday, June 20th. This week: Ottawa moves on privacy, online safety, and surveillance powers; FIPA releases new work on access rights and transparency systems; and New Brunswick’s review of its access and privacy law points to familiar questions about timeliness, recordkeeping, voter privacy, and independent oversight. Writing: Shaun […]

FIPA report calls for a new way to understand whether B.C.’s freedom of information system is working.  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Victoria, B.C. 2026.06.18 — The B.C. Freedom of Information and Privacy Association (FIPA) is releasing Drawing Access Together, a report based on over three years of research into the province’s freedom of information (FOI) systems.   The report finds that most public bodies do not maintain documented standards […]

Civil Society calls on Federal Political Leaders to Bring their Parties Under Privacy Law. More than thirty-five organizations, experts, and civil society groups are calling on Canada’s federal leaders to close a major gap in privacy protection by bringing federal political parties under Canada’s privacy laws. June 17, 2026 – In an open letter addressed to […]

June 15, 2026 – The BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association (FIPA) thanks the Treasury Board Secretariat of Canada for the opportunity to make submission for the 2025 Access to Information Act Review.   The following submission was drafted by FIPA and submitted to the Treasury Board Secretariat.   We want to thank our 2026 UVic Law Co-op Legal Researcher, Pascale Grenier, […]

Your Access and Privacy Online News Summary for Saturday, June 13th. This week, voter privacy returns to the spotlight — with a major Senate report and fresh court developments in British Columbia.  We’re also tracking Canada’s new AI strategy, proposed online safety rules for children and chatbots, access-to-information fights in Ontario and Nova Scotia, and international […]

Your Access and Privacy Online News Summary for Saturday, June 6th. This week, we begin in Alberta, where new FIPA-Ipsos polling shows strong public support for enforceable privacy rules after the exposure of voter information for 2.9 million Albertans.  We’ll also look at Alberta’s new combined ID cards, the federal lawful access bill, connected vehicle data, and […]