information technology and computer science

information technology and computer science


Canadian privacy commissioner to investigate X’s use of personal data to train AI

Privacy commissioner Philippe Dufresne says he will investigate whether social media platform X is respecting the law on the use of Canadians’ personal information. In a letter to New Democrat MP Brian Masse, Dufresne says he will look at whether X complies with federal privacy law concerning the platform’s collection, use and disclosure of personal […]

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Canada’s privacy czar launches investigation into student information data breach

The federal privacy watchdog says he has launched a formal investigation into a cybersecurity breach involving a student information system used across Canada. Privacy commissioner Philippe Dufresne says the probe was launched after his office received a breach report from U.S.-based PowerSchool, which provides the affected software, and a complaint about the incident. PowerSchool has told school boards in Newfoundland and Labrador, […]

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Chinese firm DeepSeek’s AI chatbot restricted from some government phones

The federal government has restricted Chinese artificial intelligence company DeepSeek’s chatbot from some of its mobile devices and is recommending other agencies and departments follow suit. The Treasury Board Secretariat’s chief information officer, Dominic Rochon, sent a memo Thursday to government departments detailing the moves he said are aimed at ensuring “networks and data remain […]

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Cybersecurity breach of Nova Scotia school system could have financial impact

Nova Scotia’s Education Department has asked for help from IBM as it investigates a cybersecurity breach involving a student information system used across North America, saying the breach could have a financial impact on some former and current teachers and staff. The department issued a statement Saturday saying some social insurance numbers collected before 2010 […]

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Canadian school boards among those affected by cyber incident involving third party

School boards in multiple provinces have been affected by a data breach involving software used by schools across North America to store student information.   Ontario’s Toronto, Peel and Durham district school boards issued similarly worded notices about a “cyber incident” targeting PowerSchool, a third-party application that’s also used to store some school-based staff information.  The […]

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Alberta’s privacy commissioner raises concerns over two government bills

Alberta’s information and privacy commissioner says she has big concerns – including fuzzy definitions and insufficient guardrails – in two bills now being debated in the house. The bills aim to amend existing access to information and privacy rules and are touted by Premier Danielle Smith’s government as being the strictest privacy regulations in Canada. […]

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Investigation underway after Alberta Crown corporation hit by cyberattack

An Alberta Crown corporation says it recently experienced “network issues” after it was the target of a cyberattack.  Dwayne Brunner, a spokesman for Alberta Innovates, wouldn’t confirm when the issues began, but said an investigation is underway and all network problems have been resolved. “Alberta Innovates recently experienced network issues, which we quickly resolved and […]

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Calgary libraries to reopen Wednesday following cybersecurity breach

The Calgary Public Library says its branches will reopen later this week with limited services after revealing it suffered a cybersecurity breach. The library says in an update posted on its website that patrons will have access to spaces in its branches that “do not require technology” when they reopen Wednesday, and that people will […]

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Calgary’s public libraries closed due to cybersecurity breach

All Calgary Public Library locations have been closed due to a cybersecurity breach. The library posted the news on its website, stating the closures took effect as of 5 p.m. Friday. The post says that in addition to the closures, all servers and library computer access are being turned off.  No further details on 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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National security agencies should detail how they’re using AI: federal advisory body

A federal advisory body is calling on Canada’s security agencies to publish detailed descriptions of their current and intended uses of artificial intelligence systems and software applications. In a new report, the National Security Transparency Advisory Group also urges the government to look at amending legislation being considered by Parliament to ensure oversight of how […]

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Ottawa latest city to turn to AI to predict chronic homelessness

How old are you? What is your gender? Are you Indigenous? Are you a Canadian citizen? Do you have a family?  Those are just a few of the data points that a new artificial intelligence system will use to determine if somebody might be at risk of chronic homelessness in Ottawa, thanks to a team-up […]

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