Access and Privacy Online

Access and Privacy Online


Drones helped in big Vancouver arrest. It’s time for policy scrutiny, researchers say

Canadian police forces have been using drones for many years, but scrutiny of their use is lacking, especially as the technology has evolved, privacy and surveillance researchers say.  Their concerns come after Vancouver’s Chief Const. Adam Palmer revealed that investigators deployed drones to locate a suspect in a pair of gruesome stranger attacks in the […]

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Nevada high court ends casino mogul Steve Wynn’s defamation suit against The Associated Press

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Nevada Supreme Court on Thursday ended a defamation lawsuit brought by casino mogul Steve Wynn against The Associated Press in 2018, rejecting his bid for a jury to hear his claim that he was defamed by an AP story about two women who alleged Wynn committed sexual misconduct. The seven-member […]

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28 months after FOI request, St. Catharines has not released chemical testing data for contaminated former GM site slated for residential development

Twenty-eight months after a Freedom of Information  request was submitted to the City of St. Catharines, officials have yet to release crucial reports detailing the presence of chemicals on the former GM site along Ontario Street that the previous mayor pushed to get developed behind the scenes.   These reports, Phase I and II Environmental Site […]

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US widens indictment of Russians in ‘WhisperGate’ conspiracy to destroy Ukrainian and NATO systems

BALTIMORE (AP) — The U.S. Justice Department has widened its indictment of Russians in the so-called WhisperGate malware attacks aimed at destroying computer systems in Ukraine and 26 NATO allies including the United States. A superseding indictment announced Thursday names five Russian military intelligence officers in a conspiracy to demoralize the Ukrainian people on the […]

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Florida ‘whistleblower’ says he was fired for leaking plans to build golf courses in state parks

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A former state employee who said he leaked information about the plans to build golf courses and hotels in Florida’s state parks has apparently been fired. But James Gaddis, who described himself as an “ethical whistleblower,” said he doesn’t regret making the public aware of the proposals, according to the Palm […]

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Resource crunch at federal emergency centre caused ‘significant staff exhaustion’

Budget and staff challenges have left overworked employees exhausted and sapped morale at the federal nerve centre for managing forest fires and other national emergencies, an internal memo reveals. The Public Safety Canada document also says the Government Operations Centre lacks both the capacity to fully modernize and the money for new digital tools.  The […]

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Clearview AI fined $33.7 million by Dutch data protection watchdog over ‘illegal database’ of faces

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The Dutch data protection watchdog on Tuesday issued facial recognition startup Clearview AI with a fine of 30.5 million euros ($33.7 million) over its creation of what the agency called an “illegal database” of billion of photos of faces. The Netherlands’ Data Protection Agency, or DPA, also warned Dutch companies […]

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Q&A: Future of Marineland uncertain after abysmal season; conviction for poor treatment of black bears

Sunday, September 1st will mark the final day of the 2024 season for Marineland, the Niagara Falls theme park that has arguably been the second most noteworthy attraction in the municipality, only surpassed by the famous cataracts that give the city its name.  With dwindling attendance, persistent protests from animal rights activists and what the […]

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‘A great teaching opportunity’: How one school board plans to use AI in the classroom

When students return to Catholic schools in Ottawa this week, they will be able to use artificial intelligence to help solve math problems and create essay outlines. Their teachers, too, can turn to AI to generate lesson plans, adjust content to a student’s specific needs, and give feedback on assignments. The Ottawa Catholic School Board […]

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Council appointees to Bonfield Medical Board will not see your records

It’s official, Bonfield’s council has appointed the Mayor and Deputy Mayor as members of the newly created Bonfield Medical Center Board. However, before Mayor Narry Paquette and Jason Corbett take their seats, Corbett wanted to assure residents that these new positions do not make any member of council or staff privy to confidential or medical […]

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20240831 Access and Privacy Online

Show Notes for Saturday August 31st. Writing: Shaun Fisk  | Production: Patrick Farnsworth  | Music: Breakmaster Cylinder You can support these efforts by subscribing or donating.   Show Notes: What is Telegram and Why Was its CEO Arrested in Paris  https://fipa.bc.ca/what-is-telegram-and-why-was-its-ceo-arrested-in-paris/    Frances Macron Says Arrest of the Head of the Telegram Messaging App Wasn’t Political  https://fipa.bc.ca/frances-macron-says-arrest-of-the-head-of-the-telegram-messaging-app-wasnt-political/  French Judge Extends Police Custody for Telegram […]

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Quebec takes action on illegal dumping in Kanesatake

Months after a soil sampling attempt led to aggression against two Mohawk Council of Kanesatake (MCK) chiefs, prompting Quebec’s environment ministry to cancel the tests, the province has enacted interventions on dumping that could lead to massive fines. Kanehsata’kehró:non have long watched helplessly as hundreds of dump trucks a day have streamed into Kanesatake, bringing […]

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