BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association
Your Data Your Rights
-
Reddit sues AI company Anthropic for allegedly ‘scraping’ user comments to train chatbot Claude
Social media platform Reddit sued the artificial intelligence company Anthropic on Wednesday, alleging that it is illegally “scraping” the comments of millions of Reddit users to train its chatbot Claude. Reddit claims that Anthropic has used automated bots to access Reddit’s content despite being asked not to do so, and “intentionally trained on the personal…
-
Immigration minister defends border bill’s restrictions on asylum claims
Safeguards have been written into the government’s border bill to ensure civil rights and due process are upheld in proposed immigration regulations, Immigration Minister Lena Diab said Wednesday. Critics and advocacy groups are calling the wide-ranging border security legislation a threat to civil liberties in the immigration and asylum system. One proposed change in the…
-
Mental health, food security, housing, top concerns
Recent polls show housing and food security among top issues in Antigonish, Colchester, Cumberland, and Pictou counties. Mental health counselling was the highest average reported need in Nova Scotia, although Halifax Regional Municipality made up a large plurality of total respondents (39 per cent), accounting for a skewed average of all counties. This article will…
-
Judge hears arguments from TikTok and content creators who are challenging Montana’s ban on app
MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — TikTok and Montana faced off in federal court on Thursday in a case filed by the video sharing app and five Montana content creators who want the court to temporarily block the state’s ban on the platform before it takes effect Jan. 1. Attorneys for TikTok and the content creators argued…
-
‘Hard to believe it’s real’: B.C.’s energy regulator repeatedly gave Coastal GasLink a pass on alleged environmental infractions
When officials from the BC Energy Regulator travelled to Wet’suwet’en territory in September 2022, they were planning a routine inspection of a fish-bearing stream. Two years had passed since Coastal GasLink completed installation of a section of pipeline through the stream, a tributary of Tchesinkut Creek, near the community of Burns Lake in northwest B.C.…
-
War crimes inquiry research sheds fresh light on Canadian screening, policies
OTTAWA — When an individual suspected of taking part in the Second World War murder of Jews in western Ukraine applied for admission to Canada in 1951, immigration officials did not follow up with potential witnesses who might have provided crucial details. In another case, a Slovak leader hoping to unite emigres under his leadership…
-
Academic report calls for public inquiry into Alberta Energy Regulator
Academics at the University of Calgary are calling for a public review of the Alberta Energy Regulator, describing it as secretive and too close to industry. In a peer-reviewed report issued by the university’s School For Public Policy, three authors examine what they call a “massive policy failure” in dealing with the large and growing…
-
‘Addictive’ social media feeds that keep children online targeted by New York lawmakers
New York would restrict the way online platforms like Instagram and YouTube can collect and share children’s personal information and let parents keep their kids from being bombarded by “addictive” feeds from accounts they don’t follow, under legislation proposed Wednesday. The bills offered by state leaders are aimed at protecting young people from features designed…
-
War crimes inquiry research sheds fresh light on Canadian screening, policies
OTTAWA — When an individual suspected of taking part in the Second World War murder of Jews in western Ukraine applied for admission to Canada in 1951, immigration officials did not follow up with potential witnesses who might have provided crucial details. In another case, a Slovak leader hoping to unite emigres under his leadership…
-
Florida settles lawsuit over COVID data, agrees to provide weekly stats to the public
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida will have to provide COVID-19 data to the public again after a former Democratic state representative settled a lawsuit with Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration over the decision two years ago to stop posting information on the virus’ spread online. Then-Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith sued after the Department of Health…
-
Data breach at MGM Resorts expected to cost casino giant $100 million
NEW YORK (AP) — The data breach last month that MGM Resorts is calling a cyberattack is expected to cost the casino giant more than $100 million, the Las Vegas-based company said. The incident, which was detected on Sept. 10, led to MGM shutting down some casino and hotel computer systems at properties across the U.S. in efforts…