BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association
Your Data Your Rights
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Ottawa to restore accidentally deleted privacy provision in streaming bill
The Liberal government says it will restore a privacy provision to the Online Streaming Act, more than two years after it was accidentally deleted. The federal budget released this week says the government will make a legislative amendment to “restore the right to privacy of individuals to the interpretation provisions and remove a duplicative provision…
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Nevada ransomware attack started months before it was discovered, per report
LAS VEGAS (AP) — State workers were put on paid administrative leave. Nevada residents couldn’t receive their driver’s licenses. Employers were unable to conduct background checks on new hires. These were all effects of a massive cyberattack in Nevada that took nearly a month to fully restore its services. The ransomware attack – though discovered…
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Over 5,000 researchers oppose order to share 25 years of federal grant applicant data
More than 5,000 researchers have signed an open letter pushing back against a parliamentary committee order that they say draws parallels with the U.S. government’s crackdown on equity, diversity and inclusion funding in health and science research. The Standing Committee on Science and Research adopted a motion on Oct. 1 requiring health and science grant…
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Publishers, a library and others sue over Idaho’s law restricting youth access to ‘harmful’ books
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Several large book publishers, a tiny public library and others are suing Idaho officials over a law that forces libraries to keep some books in an adults-only section if community members believe they are “harmful to minors.” The Donnelly Library, Penguin Random House and the others suing say the law is…
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Trump and Musk’s dismantling of government is shaking the foundations of US democracy
WASHINGTON (AP) — When Elon Musk debuted the Department of Government Efficiency recently at the Capitol, House Speaker Mike Johnson enthusiastically predicted the coming Trump administration would bring “a lot of change around here.” Three weeks in, the change the Trump administration has brought is a disruption of the federal government on an unprecedented scale,…
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The Latest: Protesters across the US rally against Trump and Project 2025
A movement to oppose President Donald Trump organized under the hashtags #buildtheresistance and #50501, which stands for 50 protests, 50 states, is looking to spark nationwide protests on Wednesday. Organized largely online, many of the protests are planned at state capitols, with some in other cities. Flyers circulating decry Project 2025, a hard-right playbook for…
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Brant PowerSchool update: 15 years of data, some SINs accessed in hack
If you were a student or staff member with Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board in the last decade and a half, hackers may have accessed your address, phone number and social insurance number (SIN). Last month, the board notified parents it was part of a widespread data breach affecting dozens of school boards…
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Central Alberta school divisions dealing with North America-wide PowerSchool data hack
School divisions in central Alberta are coping with a huge headache related to cybercrime: what appears to be a massive ransomeware attack against computer company PowerSchool that’s affected students and teachers across North America. PowerSchool notified hundreds of schools and school divisions across North America Jan. 7 that it’s cloud-based storage system had been hacked;…
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Former GM site in St. Catharines a lasting reminder of environmental damage from heavy industry
When Melinda Lortie became a mother, her perspective on much of her surrounding world shifted. “Motherhood really has made me mad at the world. I love my daughter more than anything in this world, there truly is nothing else that tops her importance to me. I love every part of being a mom. My anger…
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ACLU files lawsuit on behalf of Arkansas librarian fired after opposing book censorship effort
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit Monday on behalf of an Arkansas librarian who was fired after she spoke out against efforts to restrict the public’s access to certain books. The ACLU of Arkansas filed the lawsuit on behalf of former Saline County Library Director Patty Hector, who…
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Elon Musk says President Donald Trump has ‘agreed’ USAID should be shut down
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Agency for International Development is on the cusp of being shuttered, according the Trump administration’s billionaire adviser and Tesla CEO Elon Musk — who has been wrestling for control of the agency in recent days. Early Monday, Musk held a live session on X Spaces, previously known as Twitter Spaces,…