Access and Privacy Online

Access and Privacy Online


Bank scams on the rise over holidays

Fraudsters seem to continually change their tactics in order to separate people from their hard-earned money. During this time of year, scams mimicking financial institutions are more frequent. “Conexus Credit Union takes the online safety of its members extremely seriously,” said Mark Millham, Chief Risk and Compliance Officer with Conexus Credit Union. “We know that […]

Read More


Rhode Islanders’ data was leaked from a cyberattack on state health benefits website

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Cybercriminals who hacked Rhode Island’s system for health and benefits programs have released files to a site on the dark web, a scenario the state has been preparing for, Gov. Daniel McKee said Monday. The state has an outreach strategy to encourage potentially impacted Rhode Islanders to protect their personal information, […]

Read More


20241221 Access and Privacy Online

Show Notes for Saturday December 21st. Also available through: PodBean, Apple iTunes, YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM. Writing: Shaun Fisk  | Production: Patrick Farnsworth  | Music: Breakmaster Cylinder Send comments to: FIPAOnline @ fipa.bc.ca You can support these efforts by subscribing or donating.   Full Show Links Local Journalism Initiative Stories   Brant Catholic school board elects new chair  https://fipa.bc.ca/brant-catholic-school-board-elects-new-chair/   The Hamilton Spectator – https://www.thespec.com/news/hamilton-region/brant-catholic-school-board-elects-new-chair/article_238d659e-a143-5b72-bf28-ace3b8e542b9.html   County Council Approves Comprehensive […]

Read More


Italy’s privacy watchdog fines OpenAI for ChatGPT’s violations in collecting users personal data

ROME (AP) — Italy’s data protection watchdog said Friday it has fined OpenAI 15 million euros ($15.6 million) after wrapping up a probe into the collection of personal data by the U.S. artificial intelligence company’s popular chatbot ChatGPT. The country’s privacy watchdog, known as Garante, said its investigation showed that OpenAI processed users’ personal data […]

Read More


Arizona governor urges the state to stop collecting abortion data, citing patient privacy

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs is calling for legislators to repeal the state law that requires an annual abortion report, saying that it infringes on patients’ privacy, which echoes other Democratic officials’ push to reduce or eliminate such requirements. “The government has no place in surveilling Arizonans’ medical decision-making or tracking their health history,” Hobbs, a […]

Read More


Wisconsin police go quiet on school shooting as search for answers continues

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The shooter at a religious school in Wisconsin had two handguns with her but used only one in the attack that killed a teacher and a student and wounded six others, the city’s police chief said in an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday. Police were still investigating why the […]

Read More


Grubhub to pay $25M in deceptive practices settlement with Illinois attorney general and the FTC

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Grubhub Inc., an online food ordering and delivery platform, will pay $25 million to settle a dispute over alleged deceptive business practices with the Illinois attorney general and the Federal Trade Commission, officials said Tuesday. Attorney General Kwame Raoul said he launched an investigation into the 20-year-old operation after receiving “dozens” […]

Read More


Montana judge blocks rule that prevented transgender people from changing their sex on documents

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — A state judge in Montana has temporarily blocked policies that prevented transgender people from changing the sex designation on their birth certificates and driver’s licenses. District Judge Mike Menahan issued his order Monday, blocking the rule while the case moves through the courts. Menahan said it was not necessary at this […]

Read More


Housing crisis voted Canadian Press News Story of the Year

Canada’s housing shortage, widely recognized as a national crisis and the catalyst of significant immigration cuts, is The Canadian Press News Story of the Year. More than a quarter of 96 editors surveyed voted for the housing shortage as the most consequential story of 2024. The Jasper wildfires came in second place, while tensions between […]

Read More


Over 300 COVID outbreaks hit Alberta acute care facilities last year

Thousands of patients and health care workers were infected during COVID-19 outbreaks in acute care facilities in Alberta in the last year, raising questions about why more isn’t being done to prevent in-hospital transmission. Between Sept. 1, 2023, and Aug. 31, 2024, more than 300 COVID-19 outbreaks were declared at Alberta Health Services and Covenant […]

Read More


20241214 Access and Privacy Online

Show Notes for Saturday December 14th. Also available through: PodBean, Apple iTunes, YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM. Writing: Shaun Fisk  | Production: Patrick Farnsworth  | Music: Breakmaster Cylinder Send comments to: FIPAOnline @ fipa.bc.ca You can support these efforts by subscribing or donating.   Full Show Links Transparency by Default   https://www.oipc.bc.ca/documents/news-releases/2899 https://www.oipc.bc.ca/documents/infographics/2898  Canadian News  The fight to look inside the shrouded folder St. Catharines council makes it hard for you […]

Read More


Canadian officials eyed ‘new opportunities’ no matter who won U.S. election: memos

As the U.S. presidential election loomed, Canadian officials envisioned new opportunities for co-operation with their southern neighbour on nuclear energy, supply chain security and carbon capture technologies — no matter who won the contest, newly released government memos show. Several months before Americans headed to the polls, one internal Global Affairs Canada memo flagged the […]

Read More