BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association
Your Data Your Rights
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Six transgender residents sue Idaho over strict new bathroom ban
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Six transgender Idaho residents are suing the state in federal court, asking a federal judge to declare a strict new bathroom ban unconstitutional. The law, which goes into effect in July, is the strictest bathroom ban in the nation, subjecting people to time behind bars if they knowingly enter a bathroom,…
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Membertou resets cannabis law creation for community
Membertou First Nation’s chief and council are resetting the cannabis law process they have been working on for several years because they feel it needs more community participation and perspectives. Retired senator Dan Christmas, whom Chief Terry Paul asked to lead the original process in 2023, says the chief and band council want to make…
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Alberta voter info database shut down amidst probes of alleged data breach
A database belonging to an Alberta separatist group was shut down Thursday as elections officials and Mounties probe an alleged voter-list privacy breach affecting up to three million Albertans. “The RCMP has initiated an investigation and is working with other law enforcement partners in the province to determine if any offences have been committed,” Alberta’s…
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Reality of AI policy proves challenging
The topic of Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to be a confusing and delicate topic to navigate, and the Town of Oliver experienced that reality anew in recent Council discussions. A draft AI Usage policy was presented at the April 7 Committee of the Whole (CoW) meeting, to regulate how the Town approaches AI when dealing…
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Ford government to bypass public hearings on freedom-of-information clampdown
Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s government is planning to skip public hearings to pass its omnibus budget bill that contains a retroactive clampdown on access to his cellphone records. The usual legislative process sees bills go to committee, where affected groups and members of the public have a chance to weigh in, and committee members from…
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Ramara considers disabling live chat and how long council videos stay online
The length of time Ramara Township should keep video footage of council meetings is back under the magnifying glass. With no standard set by the province, municipalities are left to establish their own framework for keeping footage. During this week’s committee of the whole meeting, Ramara politicians discussed amending a schedule of its record retention…
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Tiger Woods’ lawyer vows to fight subpoena for prescription records in DUI case
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Tiger Woods ‘ attorney intends to fight an attempt by prosecutors to subpoena the golfer’s prescription drug records following his arrest last month in Florida on suspicion of driving under the influence. Attorney Doug Duncan said this week in a court filing that Woods has a constitutional right to privacy when…
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Trump wants data on California’s trans and abortion care. Can the state stop him?
The latest clash between California and President Donald Trump over abortion and gender-affirming care could soon leave doctors caught between state and federal law. Under a bill that may soon pass the Legislature, California medical providers and affiliated businesses could face hefty state fines if they comply with a federal subpoena seeking abortion, gender-affirming or…
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Privacy Commissioner says stronger data laws needed as Canada readies for Chinese EVs
Canada’s privacy commissioner says he hopes laws around private sector data sharing are strengthened as the federal government prepares to open the domestic market to Chinese electric vehicles. Speaking to the standing committee on science and research, Philippe Dufresne said Thursday he hopes that Parliament will modernize private sector privacy laws on a number of…
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Massachusetts legal aid program helps immigrants in immigration court
Alma Cothias came to the Massa Viana Law office around 8:45 a.m., just as she does most mornings, right after dropping her children off at school. She made her coffee, sat down at her desk, put on some electronic dance music and started some administrative tasks to ease into the day. Cothias said she was…