BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association
Your Data Your Rights
-
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg expected to testify in $8 billion Facebook privacy lawsuit
A $8 billion-dollar class action investors’ lawsuit against Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and company leaders — current and former — begins Wednesday, with claims stemming from the privacy scandal involving the Cambridge Analytica political consulting firm. Investors allege in their lawsuit that Meta did not fully disclose the risks that Facebook users’ personal information would…
-
Thousands of Afghans have been brought to Britain in secrecy after a data leak
LONDON (AP) — Thousands of Afghans, including many who worked with British forces, have been secretly resettled in the U.K. after a leak of data on their identities raised fears that the Taliban could target them, the British government revealed Tuesday. The government said it is closing the program, which a rare court order had…
-
Justice Department sues Apple, alleging it illegally monopolized the smartphone market
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department on Thursday announced a sweeping antitrust lawsuit against Apple, accusing the tech giant of engineering an illegal monopoly in smartphones that boxes out competitors, stifles innovation and keeps prices artificially high. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in New Jersey, alleges that Apple has monopoly power in the smartphone…
-
New bipartisan bill would require online identification, labeling of AI-generated videos and audio
WASHINGTON (AP) — Bipartisan legislation introduced in the House Thursday would require the identification and labeling of online images, videos and audio generated using artificial intelligence, the latest effort to rein in rapidly developing technologies that, if misused, could easily deceive and mislead. So-called deepfakes created by artificial intelligence can be hard or even impossible…
-
Liberals introduce legislation updating Elections Act, in keeping with NDP pact
The Liberal government has tabled legislation that updates the federal Elections Act as part of its political pact with the NDP. The minister responsible for democratic institutions, Dominic LeBlanc, said the changes “will enhance Canadians’ ability to exercise their vote while strengthening protections against foreign interference in our elections.” The bill, if passed, would add…
-
Scientists fired from Winnipeg lab over security fears rightly under probe: minister
It’s “extremely appropriate” that two scientists who lost their jobs due to dealings with China remain under investigation, Health Minister Mark Holland said Wednesday. The National Microbiology Laboratory researchers were fired in early 2021 after their security clearances were revoked over questions about their loyalty and the potential for coercion by China. Records tabled in…
-
Prosecutor tells jury former Milwaukee official who requested fake ballots was no whistleblower
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A prosecutor urged jurors Wednesday to find a former Milwaukee elections official who requested fake absentee ballots guilty of misconduct and fraud, rejecting her argument that she was only trying to expose flaws in Wisconsin’s election system. Assistant District Attorney Matthew Westphal said during his closing arguments in Kimberly Zapata’s trial…
-
MV Confederation to sail solo till mid-May
Refit work on the 17-year-old MV Fanafjord, slated to replace the decommissioned Holiday Island ferry running between Wood Islands, PEI and Caribou, NS is well underway, according to Transport Canada. However, the department is no longer confident the vessel will be ready by May 1st as promised by Cardigan MP Lawrence MacAulay and other federal…
-
Feds eye ‘more responsive’ models for RCMP’s contract policing across Canada
The Liberal government is looking for ways to improve policing services provided under contract by the RCMP across Canada — eyeing everything from overall cost and sustainability to stronger oversight and accountability. Among the possibilities are “more responsive” police service models that could involve closer integration of the RCMP and community social services, say internal…
-
Teachers union executive weighs options after information leak
Manitoba Teachers’ Society executives have not ruled out an investigation to hold whistleblowers accountable for exposing employee concerns about the head office’s “toxic” environment, related departures and capacity to support members. “I honestly can’t say at this point in time which direction things will take; we’ll have to see how things play out,” said president…