BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association
Your Data Your Rights
20261031 Access and Privacy Online
Your Access and Privacy Online News Summary for Saturday, October 31st.
This week: the Crime Stoppers breach, Canada’s digital regulator, and student aid under scrutiny. Then, AI safety, American transparency battles, and the global scam industry.
With municipal and provincial elections across the country, the dust is still settling around newly elected leadership.
In the days and weeks ahead, FIPA will be looking at what those leaders committed to on access, privacy and public accountability.
We’ll bring you analysis to help track those commitments, hold elected officials accountable, and encourage better decisions in the public interest. Be sure to tune tune in in the weeks and months ahead.
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 Voter Privacy.ca
- Voterprivacy.ca
OIPC Consultation
- OIPC launches consultation on large volume freedom of information requests
- Participate in the consultation:
- Updated Guide to OIPC processes (PIPA)
- Updated Guide to OIPC processes (FIPPA)
- Framework infographic
- Updated Time extension guidelines for public bodies
Canadian Crime Stoppers Data Breach
- Winnipeg police suspend use of Crime Stoppers after data breach
- Intake of Crime Stoppers tips in Toronto, surrounding areas paused after data breach
- OPP pauses province-wide promotion of Crime Stoppers
- The Morrisburg Leader – https://www.morrisburgleader.ca/2026/10/26/opp-pauses-province-wide-promotion-of-crime-stoppers/
- St. Thomas Police suspend participation in local Crime Stoppers following data breach
- Aylmer Express – https://aylmerexpress.com/category/news/
- Privacy commissioner opens investigation into Crime Stoppers data breach
Canadian Privacy
- Montreal police rejected body cameras 7 years ago. Why do they want them now?
- Investigative Journalism Foundation – https://theijf.org/article/spvm-uturns
- Unauthorized medical records ‘snooping,’ information request delays “unacceptable,” says information and privacy commissioner
- Yellowknifer – https://yellowknifer.com/
- Town of Taber council briefs from Oct. 13
- The Taber Times – https://fipa.bc.ca/nm/town-of-taber-council-briefs-from-oct-13
- Affordability measures, consumer protection legislation coming: Alberta government
- Nova Scotia Power CEO Vivek Sood departing after less than a year on the job
- Miller says government moving quickly but no timeline for new digital regulator
Ontario OSAP
- Ontario delayed inspections of two career colleges later given ‘fails’: court docs
- OSAP, affordability questions likely to dominate as Queen’s Park resumes sitting
- Ford says he feels ‘terrible’ for honest students caught in career college OSAP pause
Canadian Access Stories
- Cuban ambassadors ask Canada to renew its rejection of U.S. embargo and fuel blockade
- Raise Your Voice for APL for Ontario Public Libraries Week
- The Auroran – https://www.newspapers-online.com/auroran/
- St. Catharines mayor’s eleventh-hour push to shift GM cleanup costs onto taxpayers
AI and Data Centers
- Firm behind planned Anthropic data centre in Nova Scotia denies owing fees to N.L.
- Waze rejects Malaysia’s data risks claims after civil servants barred from using the app
- Ukraine’s strikes on Russian data centers disrupt key services and derail AI research
- A timeline of developments in AI safety since the attack on Hugging Face
- New York enacts ban on ‘unsafe’ chatbot behavior with kids as states push AI regulation boundaries
United States Access and Privacy
- 6 citizens sue Trump, saying media ban deprives them of news as audience stakeholders
- Deportations climb under Trump but fall short of White House target, a new report finds
- Louisiana residents sue to unwind SpaceX tax deal
International Access and Privacy
- Global cyberscams bilk Americans out of billions. A fragmented US response means few get money back
- Quest Diagnostics reports cyber breach affecting ‘certain patient records’
Other FIPA Updates
- Access and Privacy Online in the Classroom
Your Access and Privacy Online News Summary for Saturday, October 31st.
This week: the Crime Stoppers breach, Canada’s digital regulator, and student aid under scrutiny. Then, AI safety, American transparency battles, and the global scam industry.
With municipal and provincial elections across the country, the dust is still settling around newly elected leadership.
In the days and weeks ahead, FIPA will be looking at what those leaders committed to on access, privacy and public accountability.
We’ll bring you analysis to help track those commitments, hold elected officials accountable, and encourage better decisions in the public interest. Be sure to tune tune in in the weeks and months ahead.
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 Voter Privacy.ca
- Voterprivacy.ca
OIPC Consultation
- OIPC launches consultation on large volume freedom of information requests
- Participate in the consultation:
- Updated Guide to OIPC processes (PIPA)
- Updated Guide to OIPC processes (FIPPA)
- Framework infographic
- Updated Time extension guidelines for public bodies
Canadian Crime Stoppers Data Breach
- Winnipeg police suspend use of Crime Stoppers after data breach
- Intake of Crime Stoppers tips in Toronto, surrounding areas paused after data breach
- OPP pauses province-wide promotion of Crime Stoppers
- The Morrisburg Leader – https://www.morrisburgleader.ca/2026/10/26/opp-pauses-province-wide-promotion-of-crime-stoppers/
- St. Thomas Police suspend participation in local Crime Stoppers following data breach
- Aylmer Express – https://aylmerexpress.com/category/news/
- Privacy commissioner opens investigation into Crime Stoppers data breach
Canadian Privacy
- Montreal police rejected body cameras 7 years ago. Why do they want them now?
- Investigative Journalism Foundation – https://theijf.org/article/spvm-uturns
- Unauthorized medical records ‘snooping,’ information request delays “unacceptable,” says information and privacy commissioner
- Yellowknifer – https://yellowknifer.com/
- Town of Taber council briefs from Oct. 13
- The Taber Times – https://fipa.bc.ca/nm/town-of-taber-council-briefs-from-oct-13
- Affordability measures, consumer protection legislation coming: Alberta government
- Nova Scotia Power CEO Vivek Sood departing after less than a year on the job
- Miller says government moving quickly but no timeline for new digital regulator
Ontario OSAP
- Ontario delayed inspections of two career colleges later given ‘fails’: court docs
- OSAP, affordability questions likely to dominate as Queen’s Park resumes sitting
- Ford says he feels ‘terrible’ for honest students caught in career college OSAP pause
Canadian Access Stories
- Cuban ambassadors ask Canada to renew its rejection of U.S. embargo and fuel blockade
- Raise Your Voice for APL for Ontario Public Libraries Week
- The Auroran – https://www.newspapers-online.com/auroran/
- St. Catharines mayor’s eleventh-hour push to shift GM cleanup costs onto taxpayers
AI and Data Centers
- Firm behind planned Anthropic data centre in Nova Scotia denies owing fees to N.L.
- Waze rejects Malaysia’s data risks claims after civil servants barred from using the app
- Ukraine’s strikes on Russian data centers disrupt key services and derail AI research
- A timeline of developments in AI safety since the attack on Hugging Face
- New York enacts ban on ‘unsafe’ chatbot behavior with kids as states push AI regulation boundaries
United States Access and Privacy
- 6 citizens sue Trump, saying media ban deprives them of news as audience stakeholders
- Deportations climb under Trump but fall short of White House target, a new report finds
- Louisiana residents sue to unwind SpaceX tax deal
International Access and Privacy
- Global cyberscams bilk Americans out of billions. A fragmented US response means few get money back
- Quest Diagnostics reports cyber breach affecting ‘certain patient records’
Other FIPA Updates
- Access and Privacy Online in the Classroom