BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association
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20260228 Access and Privacy Online
Your Access and Privacy Online News Summary for Saturday, February 28th.
At the time of posting, Bill C-4 has moved back to the House of Commons with amendments. It is not too late to make your voice heard and for the majority Members of Parliament to do the right thing and put people before their party. We’ll bring you more next week — and you can find more details in the show notes below.
It’s a busy week with big stories and late breaking developments on Bill C-4 Part 4.
Artificial intelligence companies are sitting at the centre of a devastating human tragedy in Tumbler Ridge — raising questions about what happens when private companies flag violent threats but face no clear legal duty to act.
At the same time, political parties are being pitched AI-powered “digital fighters” to weaponize voter data in real time — even as Parliament and Senate continue debating legislation that would shield parties from independent privacy oversight.
Remaining in B.C., the provincial government has introduced Bill 9, promising efficiency in the FOI system — while critics warn it weakens access rights and ignores longstanding recordkeeping failures.
And in the United States, court battles over press freedom, immigration enforcement secrecy, and mass document disclosures continue to test the boundaries of constitutional protections.
It’s a week when surveillance, accountability, and democratic safeguards are colliding.
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 Part 4
- Hon. Pierre J. Dalphond’s speech proposing a sunset provision
- watched here at 20:04 and read here in the Hansard.
- Hon. Colin Deacon’s comments on the sunset clause
- watched here at 18:29 and read here in the Hansard.
- Bill C-4 Dashboard
- 20260218 The Standing Senate LCJC REPORT
- 20260212 FIPA Presentation to Senate LCJC
- 202402 FIPA Commentary – Bill C-4 Special Edition
Canadian Senate Bill C-4 and C-12
- Senate committee recommends removing immigration measures from border bill
- Politicians are being sold AI-powered ‘digital fighters’
British Columbia Bill 9
- Improving digital service delivery with FOIPPA amendments Quicker, streamlined processes improve the FOI applicant experience
- BILL 9 – 2026 FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AND PROTECTION OF PRIVACY AMENDMENT ACT, 2026
- Statement from BC Information and Privacy Commissioner regarding proposed amendments to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act
- 2026 Bill 9 Weakens Access in BC
Canadian Surveillance and Privacy
- Danger was flagged, but not reported: What the Tumbler Ridge tragedy reveals about Canada’s AI governance vacuum
- Police are finding suspects based on their online searches as courts weigh privacy concerns
- Hegseth warns Anthropic to let the military use the company’s AI tech as it sees fit, AP sources say
Canadian Access to Information
- Liberals accept Conservative budget amendments on ‘regulatory sandboxes’
- Five heroes celebrated for defending nature against unchecked development in Caledon
- Left to Choose: Training offered, but not required for municipal leaders
- Part 1 CHCO TV The Courier – https://chco.tv/left-to-choose-training-offered-but-not-required-for-municipal-leaders/
- Part 2 CHCO TV The Courier – https://chco.tv/left-to-choose-mayors-officials-back-mandatory-training/
- MP opens constituency office in New Liskeard
- The Temiskaming Speaker – https://speaker.northernontario.ca/mp-opens-constituency-office-in-new-liskeard/
Canadian Access and Privacy in the Courts
- B.C. health workers breached privacy of injured victims of Vancouver festival attack
- Clearview AI loses B.C. appeal of findings over facial recognition privacy breaches
- After guilty plea in Indian plot to kill Sikh activist, Ottawa condemned for push to withhold ‘sensitive’ information in Nijjar murder trial
- Divisional Court reserves decision in trustee challenge testing limits of in-camera confidentiality
- The Kingstonist – https://www.kingstonist.com/
US Issues
- Ghislaine Maxwell fights release of more Epstein documents, calling disclosure law unconstitutional
- Texas man was fatally shot by a federal immigration agent last year during a stop, new records show
- Witness who saw friend fatally shot by immigration agent in Texas last year dies in car accident
- Without nationwide rules, South Carolina lawmakers move to keep college athlete payments secret
- Judge weighs Washington Post’s demand for government to return devices seized from reporter’s home
- ICE officer training is ‘deficient’ and ‘broken,’ former agency lawyer tells congressional forum
International News
- Russia opens criminal investigation against Telegram app founder Pavel Durov
- Discord postpones age verification rollout amid criticism, promises transparency
- Aid groups petition Israeli court to let them keep working in Gaza after ban over new rules
- Samsung rolls out more AI, new privacy shield mode with the new Galaxy S26 lineup
FIPA Updates
- FIPA at VIPSS 2026
- Access and Privacy Online in the Classroom
Your Access and Privacy Online News Summary for Saturday, February 28th.
At the time of posting, Bill C-4 has moved back to the House of Commons with amendments. It is not too late to make your voice heard and for the majority Members of Parliament to do the right thing and put people before their party. We’ll bring you more next week — and you can find more details in the show notes below.
It’s a busy week with big stories and late breaking developments on Bill C-4 Part 4.
Artificial intelligence companies are sitting at the centre of a devastating human tragedy in Tumbler Ridge — raising questions about what happens when private companies flag violent threats but face no clear legal duty to act.
At the same time, political parties are being pitched AI-powered “digital fighters” to weaponize voter data in real time — even as Parliament and Senate continue debating legislation that would shield parties from independent privacy oversight.
Remaining in B.C., the provincial government has introduced Bill 9, promising efficiency in the FOI system — while critics warn it weakens access rights and ignores longstanding recordkeeping failures.
And in the United States, court battles over press freedom, immigration enforcement secrecy, and mass document disclosures continue to test the boundaries of constitutional protections.
It’s a week when surveillance, accountability, and democratic safeguards are colliding.
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 Part 4
- Hon. Pierre J. Dalphond’s speech proposing a sunset provision
- watched here at 20:04 and read here in the Hansard.
- Hon. Colin Deacon’s comments on the sunset clause
- watched here at 18:29 and read here in the Hansard.
- Bill C-4 Dashboard
- 20260218 The Standing Senate LCJC REPORT
- 20260212 FIPA Presentation to Senate LCJC
- 202402 FIPA Commentary – Bill C-4 Special Edition
Canadian Senate Bill C-4 and C-12
- Senate committee recommends removing immigration measures from border bill
- Politicians are being sold AI-powered ‘digital fighters’
British Columbia Bill 9
- Improving digital service delivery with FOIPPA amendments Quicker, streamlined processes improve the FOI applicant experience
- BILL 9 – 2026 FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AND PROTECTION OF PRIVACY AMENDMENT ACT, 2026
- Statement from BC Information and Privacy Commissioner regarding proposed amendments to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act
- 2026 Bill 9 Weakens Access in BC
Canadian Surveillance and Privacy
- Danger was flagged, but not reported: What the Tumbler Ridge tragedy reveals about Canada’s AI governance vacuum
- Police are finding suspects based on their online searches as courts weigh privacy concerns
- Hegseth warns Anthropic to let the military use the company’s AI tech as it sees fit, AP sources say
Canadian Access to Information
- Liberals accept Conservative budget amendments on ‘regulatory sandboxes’
- Five heroes celebrated for defending nature against unchecked development in Caledon
- Left to Choose: Training offered, but not required for municipal leaders
- Part 1 CHCO TV The Courier – https://chco.tv/left-to-choose-training-offered-but-not-required-for-municipal-leaders/
- Part 2 CHCO TV The Courier – https://chco.tv/left-to-choose-mayors-officials-back-mandatory-training/
- MP opens constituency office in New Liskeard
- The Temiskaming Speaker – https://speaker.northernontario.ca/mp-opens-constituency-office-in-new-liskeard/
Canadian Access and Privacy in the Courts
- B.C. health workers breached privacy of injured victims of Vancouver festival attack
- Clearview AI loses B.C. appeal of findings over facial recognition privacy breaches
- After guilty plea in Indian plot to kill Sikh activist, Ottawa condemned for push to withhold ‘sensitive’ information in Nijjar murder trial
- Divisional Court reserves decision in trustee challenge testing limits of in-camera confidentiality
- The Kingstonist – https://www.kingstonist.com/
US Issues
- Ghislaine Maxwell fights release of more Epstein documents, calling disclosure law unconstitutional
- Texas man was fatally shot by a federal immigration agent last year during a stop, new records show
- Witness who saw friend fatally shot by immigration agent in Texas last year dies in car accident
- Without nationwide rules, South Carolina lawmakers move to keep college athlete payments secret
- Judge weighs Washington Post’s demand for government to return devices seized from reporter’s home
- ICE officer training is ‘deficient’ and ‘broken,’ former agency lawyer tells congressional forum
International News
- Russia opens criminal investigation against Telegram app founder Pavel Durov
- Discord postpones age verification rollout amid criticism, promises transparency
- Aid groups petition Israeli court to let them keep working in Gaza after ban over new rules
- Samsung rolls out more AI, new privacy shield mode with the new Galaxy S26 lineup
FIPA Updates
- FIPA at VIPSS 2026
- Access and Privacy Online in the Classroom