Access and Privacy Online

Access and Privacy Online


Social Security head steps down over DOGE access of recipient information: AP sources

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Social Security Administration ‘s acting commissioner has stepped down from her role at the agency over Department of Government Efficiency requests to access Social Security recipient information, according to two people familiar with the official’s departure who were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. Acting Commissioner Michelle King’s departure from […]

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Competition Bureau says it’s probing whether landlords are using AI to set rents

The Competition Bureau has confirmed it’s investigating the possible use of AI-driven algorithmic pricing in Canadian real estate rental markets. The practice involves real estate companies using programs that track what competitors are charging for rent and leases. An American antitrust lawsuit alleges companies are using this software to collude and artificially inflate rents. That […]

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Trump administration wants the Supreme Court to let the firing of whistleblower agency head proceed

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration wants the Supreme Court to permit the firing of the head of the federal agency dedicated to protecting whistleblowers, according to documents obtained Sunday that would mark the first appeal to the justices since President Donald Trump took office. The emergency appeal is the start of what probably will […]

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Rural transit ideas floated behind the scenes, UCP says

Improved transit could be on its way to rural Alberta, a UCP cabinet minister teased in a recent interview on passenger rail transportation. “I would just say, stay tuned,” Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen told The Macleod Gazette. “I don’t want to show my cards yet, but we’re actually working on some really interesting policy ideas […]

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20250215 Access and Privacy Online

Show Notes for Saturday February 15th. 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 Power School Data Breach Federal privacy commissioner investigating cyberattack on education software used in Manitoba  https://fipa.bc.ca/federal-privacy-commissioner-investigating-cyberattack-on-education-software-used-in-manitoba/  Winnipeg Free Press – https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2025/02/11/federal-privacy-commissioner-investigating-cyberattack-on-education-software-used-in-manitoba Canada’s privacy czar launches investigation into student […]

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Toronto police chats undermined testimony. But it was whistleblower who got fired

Former Toronto Police Service officer Firouzeh Zarabi-Majd said she found out about the unofficial 51 Division group chat “accidentally” after being told about it by a colleague.  What she saw included a message “talking about my vagina,” she said, among other disturbing conversations. Zarabi-Majd would go on to be fired for insubordination after posting the […]

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Anger, chaos and confusion take hold as federal workers face mass layoffs

NEW YORK (AP) — Workers across the country responded with anger and confusion Friday as they grappled with the Trump administration ‘s aggressive effort to shrink the size of the federal workforce by ordering agencies to lay off probationary employees who have yet to qualify for civil service protections. While much of the administration’s attention […]

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Feb. 14 coverage advisory about a Canadian Press investigation

The Canadian Press has published an investigation by reporter Darryl Greer into unofficial police chat groups and how they blur and breach ethical lines. The main story is accompanied by two sidebars. If you have questions, please contact B.C. and Yukon Bureau Chief Ian Young at ian.young@thecanadianpress.com. — ‘Amongst the trusted’: How private police chat […]

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‘Amongst the trusted’: How private police chat groups blur and breach ethical lines

In August 2021, a Toronto drug case took a dramatic turn when a prosecutor made what the judge called a “highly unusual” request, asking the court to throw out evidence by a key police witness. It came after defence lawyers had grilled Toronto Police Service Const. Ryan Kotzer over “disparaging comments about black people” in […]

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Mississauga town hall hears concerns over missing Black boys in the GTA

On a frigid Saturday afternoon at the beginning of February, community members gathered at Malton Youth Hub to voice concerns about the number of missing Black boys in the Greater Toronto Area. The town hall aimed to raise awareness and provide resources for those seeking to support affected families. It was part of a series […]

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North Dakota was a leader in limiting China land purchases and sees no reason to stop

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — It’s been three years since a Chinese company’s plan to develop a swath of farmland near a North Dakota Air Force base prompted local security concerns and led to a rush of legislation across the country, but calls for restrictions keep coming. If anything, the demand by state legislators and Congress […]

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Seattle officers who attended Jan. 6 rally can’t remain anonymous, Washington high court rules

SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle police officers who attended the Jan. 6, 2021, rally and protests at the U.S. Capitol can be identified in public court records, the Washington State Supreme Court ruled Thursday. The ruling says the officers haven’t shown that the public release of their names violates their right to privacy, The Seattle Times […]

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