BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association
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20251213 Access and Privacy Online
This is your Access and Privacy News Summary for Saturday, December 13th.
As we head into the holiday season, it’s another big week for access and privacy. Local Journalism Initiative reporting uncovers serious questions about water safety, council transparency, and digital surveillance at home. Nationally, we’re seeing renewed pressure around the Ring of Fire, critical minerals, and Indigenous consent. Around the world, governments are reshaping whistleblower protections, social media rules for kids, and even how far U.S. presidential power can reach.
We’ll move from Canadian access-to-information stories, through whistleblowers and privacy on campus and in our streets, before turning to international developments, U.S. institutional dynamics, and America’s growing influence on the digital rights of travelers.
Also available through: PodBean, Apple iTunes, YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM, ListenNotes, Podchaser, Boomplay.
Writing: Shaun Fisk | Production: Patrick Farnsworth | Music: Breakmaster Cylinder
Send comments to: FIPAOnline @ fipa.bc.ca
You can support these efforts by subscribing or donating.
Full Show Links
FIPA Bill C-4
- UPDATED Call to Action
- FIPA Bill C-4 Part 4 Dashboard
- Bill C-4 Part 4 line-by-line and brief
Canadian ATI Stories
- City, province knew for weeks that a system to filter harmful toxins was disconnected but left public in the dark, FOI reveals
- Disability advocates call for province to reverse provisions of Bill 60
- Councillors reject minimums for public meetings
- Major procedural changes set in motion for Crowsnest Pass council
- Shootin’ the Breeze – https://shootinthebreeze.ca/
- B.C., Ottawa deflect responsibility for train-wildlife collisions
- First military procurements managed by Defence Investment Agency revealed
Northern Ring of Fire
- Inside the Ring of Fire: A tale of two First Nations and a road that could change everything
- Why northern First Nations still rely on diesel fuel — and what could power the coveted Ring of Fire
Canadian Whistleblowers
- Report raises concerns about human rights of N.S. female migrant workers
- Members of Congress send scathing letter to WADA over probe to find leaker in Chinese swimmer case
Canadian Privacy
- Cameras keep an eye on safety
- Drayton Valley and District Free Press – https://www.dvfreepress.com/
- Arbitrator partially sides with Queen’s faculty in grievance over security software
International Access and Privacy
- Slovakia’s parliament approves plan to dismantle whistleblower protection office
- Social media ban for children under 16 starts in Australia
US Trump Impacts
- The Supreme Court weighs another step in favor of broad presidential power sought by Trump
- The Supreme Court seems likely to back Trump’s power to fire independent agency board members
- Justice Department can unseal Ghislaine Maxwell sex trafficking case records, judge says
- What to know about the Justice Department’s Jeffrey Epstein files
- Judge wants whistleblower to testify in contempt probe of Trump official over planes to El Salvador
- Former Colorado clerk will remain in state prison after a federal judge rejects her bid for freedom
- US health department unveils strategy to expand its adoption of AI technology
- Massachusetts court hears arguments in lawsuit alleging Meta designed apps to be addictive to kids
Troubling Actions
- EU leader warns of US interference in Europe’s affairs as Russia praises Trump’s security vision
- Foreigners allowed to travel to the US without a visa could soon face new social media screening
This is your Access and Privacy News Summary for Saturday, December 13th.
As we head into the holiday season, it’s another big week for access and privacy. Local Journalism Initiative reporting uncovers serious questions about water safety, council transparency, and digital surveillance at home. Nationally, we’re seeing renewed pressure around the Ring of Fire, critical minerals, and Indigenous consent. Around the world, governments are reshaping whistleblower protections, social media rules for kids, and even how far U.S. presidential power can reach.
We’ll move from Canadian access-to-information stories, through whistleblowers and privacy on campus and in our streets, before turning to international developments, U.S. institutional dynamics, and America’s growing influence on the digital rights of travelers.
Also available through: PodBean, Apple iTunes, YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM, ListenNotes, Podchaser, Boomplay.
Writing: Shaun Fisk | Production: Patrick Farnsworth | Music: Breakmaster Cylinder
Send comments to: FIPAOnline @ fipa.bc.ca
You can support these efforts by subscribing or donating.
Full Show Links
FIPA Bill C-4
- UPDATED Call to Action
- FIPA Bill C-4 Part 4 Dashboard
- Bill C-4 Part 4 line-by-line and brief
Canadian ATI Stories
- City, province knew for weeks that a system to filter harmful toxins was disconnected but left public in the dark, FOI reveals
- Disability advocates call for province to reverse provisions of Bill 60
- Councillors reject minimums for public meetings
- Major procedural changes set in motion for Crowsnest Pass council
- Shootin’ the Breeze – https://shootinthebreeze.ca/
- B.C., Ottawa deflect responsibility for train-wildlife collisions
- First military procurements managed by Defence Investment Agency revealed
Northern Ring of Fire
- Inside the Ring of Fire: A tale of two First Nations and a road that could change everything
- Why northern First Nations still rely on diesel fuel — and what could power the coveted Ring of Fire
Canadian Whistleblowers
- Report raises concerns about human rights of N.S. female migrant workers
- Members of Congress send scathing letter to WADA over probe to find leaker in Chinese swimmer case
Canadian Privacy
- Cameras keep an eye on safety
- Drayton Valley and District Free Press – https://www.dvfreepress.com/
- Arbitrator partially sides with Queen’s faculty in grievance over security software
International Access and Privacy
- Slovakia’s parliament approves plan to dismantle whistleblower protection office
- Social media ban for children under 16 starts in Australia
US Trump Impacts
- The Supreme Court weighs another step in favor of broad presidential power sought by Trump
- The Supreme Court seems likely to back Trump’s power to fire independent agency board members
- Justice Department can unseal Ghislaine Maxwell sex trafficking case records, judge says
- What to know about the Justice Department’s Jeffrey Epstein files
- Judge wants whistleblower to testify in contempt probe of Trump official over planes to El Salvador
- Former Colorado clerk will remain in state prison after a federal judge rejects her bid for freedom
- US health department unveils strategy to expand its adoption of AI technology
- Massachusetts court hears arguments in lawsuit alleging Meta designed apps to be addictive to kids
Troubling Actions
- EU leader warns of US interference in Europe’s affairs as Russia praises Trump’s security vision
- Foreigners allowed to travel to the US without a visa could soon face new social media screening