BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association
Your Data Your Rights
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Essex launches revamped online ‘Report a Problem’ tool that allows residents to check on status
The Town of Essex’s “Report a Problem” online platform – that allows residents to relay issues related to Town-owned infrastructure, parks, facilities, and concerns with Short Term Rental Units and town by-laws – has been updated. Essex Council learned of the revamp, and received a presentation on the changes, at the July 7 meeting. The…
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Study finds genetically distinct bull trout population in Kananaskis could be devastated by proposed logging project
KANANASKIS – A newly uncovered, genetically distinct population of bull trout in an area of Kananaskis could be lost forever should a proposed logging operation go ahead, according to a new study. Prepared by Fintegrate Fisheries & Watershed Consulting for Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS), the study began in 2023 and highlighted the importance…
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Reading, writing, punching, kicking
Julie Braaksma, better known as Ms. Braaksma inside her Brandon elementary school, was called for back-up help when a Grade 1 student burst into a temper tantrum in January. More than 15 years into her career as a resource teacher, the request was not out of the ordinary; in fact, she often tells colleagues to…
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AT&T says a data breach leaked millions of customers’ information online. Were you affected?
NEW YORK (AP) — The theft of sensitive information belonging to millions of AT&T’s current and former customers has been recently discovered online, the telecommunications giant said this weekend. In a Saturday announcement addressing the data breach, AT&T said that a dataset found on the “dark web” contains information including some Social Security numbers and…
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Beware: fraudsters employ diverse tactics to target victims
Fraudsters, known for their persistence and adaptability, have evolved their solicitation methods over the years, expanding their reach through various channels. While door-to-door visits were once typical, today’s landscape sees fraudsters utilizing text messages, internet platforms, phones, emails, and social media to target unsuspecting individuals. Understanding these tactics is crucial for protecting oneself against potential…
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Half of Canadians support TikTok ban, with U.S. concerns ‘trickling’ north: poll
A new poll indicates 51 per cent of Canadians support banning the social media app TikTok, after a U.S. bill aiming to do just that passed in the House of Representatives. Canada has ordered its own national security review of TikTok, something the Liberal government revealed following passage of the U.S. bill earlier this month. …
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Emergency and romance scams still going around in Essex area
With the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre noting there were 41,111 victims to fraud in 2023, fraudsters and scammers can get creative in fashioning a scenario that can manipulate unsuspecting individuals into forwarding over their hard-earned cash. Often, those instances create a sense of urgency or panic, or may pull on the heartstrings of their victims. In…
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TFN nurse accused of accessing residents’ health records without consent
Residents of Thessalon First Nation (TFN) are looking for answers after a community nurse allegedly accessed their private records without a “legitimate reason” to do so, according to a local health agency. The TFN members were informed of the alleged mass privacy breach last week via a series of letters from Maamwesying North Shore Community…
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Why did more than 1,000 people die after police subdued them with force that isn’t meant to kill?
Carl Grant, a Vietnam veteran with dementia, wandered out of a hospital room to charge a cellphone he imagined he had. When he wouldn’t sit still, the police officer escorting Grant body-slammed him, ricocheting the patient’s head off the floor. Taylor Ware, a former Marine and aspiring college student, walked the grassy grounds of an…
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TikTok is under investigation by the FTC over data practices and could face a lawsuit
NEW YORK (AP) — The Federal Trade Commission is investigating TikTok over its data and security practices, a probe that could lead to a settlement or a lawsuit against the company, according to a person familiar with the matter. The investigation is the latest battle in Washington for the social media company, which is already…