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Privacy Laws in Canada and Around the World
Introduction

Historically, privacy referred to being out of the public eye whereby individuals considered their personal affairs, lifestyle and conversations private and was not made public for others to judge. In today’s world privacy goes far beyond this simple definition to include the rights of all information concerning individuals or companies to remain private if they wish to keep it that way.

At first the invasion of privacy of individuals was limited to information that various forms of the news media could find out about the private lives of well-known or influential individuals, or public people who held public office or positions of importance. For example, the British Royal family was continually being bombarded by the news media invading their privacy in order to sell their papers.

However, with the coming of the electronic age, personal computers and the Internet, invasion of privacy began to run ramped. No ones personal or private information was safe. Others were spying on or invading the privacy of people from all walks of life, including governments, businesses and in individuals.

This site briefly reviews selected information regarding Privacy Laws in Canada, both Federal and Provincial, Privacy Laws in the United States, Privacy Laws in Other Countries, Links for Privacy Laws, and some Articles on Privacy Laws. Information for this site is extracted from the various websites located under Links for Privacy Laws.

Site Road Map to Privacy Laws

1.	Introduction 2.     Privacy Laws in Canada 3.     Privacy Laws in the United States 4.	Privacy Laws in Other Countries 5.	Links for Privacy Laws 6.	Some Articles on Privacy Laws

Privacy Laws in Canada
Federal Privacy Laws in Canada

The Canadian Federal Government maintains jurisdiction over two primary federal privacy laws. These are the Privacy Act and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA).1

The focus of the Privacy Act is all federal government departments and agencies and their use and disclosure of personal information. For example, Statistics Canada is a major federal government agency, which collects personal information on individuals, and is under the jurisdiction of the Privacy Act, in addition to other laws and regulations regarding privacy and disclosure of information. Although government departments and agencies collect and use personal information, the act allows individuals the right to access and change their personal information.

The Privacy Act and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) includes all personal information collected by commercial businesses such as banks, service industries, and regulated organizations. This act does not apply to the personal information of employees for provincially regulated organizations. In most provinces, appropriate provincial privacy laws regulate employee information.

Provincial Privacy Laws in Canada2
Provincial Privacy Laws in Canada Province: Alberta Privacy Laws: FIPPA2, PHIA3, PIPA4 Date Enacted: May 24, 2006, Apr 25, 2001, Jan 1, 2004 Province: British Columbia Privacy Laws: FIPPA, PIPA Date Enacted: Oct 4, 1993, Jan 1, 2004

Province: Manitoba Privacy Laws: FIPPA Date Enacted: May 4, 1998

Province: New Brunswick Privacy Laws: PIPA Date Enacted: Apr 1, 2001

Province: Newfoundland Privacy Laws: FIPPA Date Enacted: Mar 14, 2002

Province: Northwest Territories Privacy Laws: FIPPA Date Enacted: Dec 31, 1996 Province: Nova Scotia Privacy Laws: FIPPA Date Enacted: 1977

Province: Nunavut Privacy Laws: FIPPA Date Enacted: N/A

Province: Ontario Privacy Laws: FIPPA, PHIA Date Enacted: 1996, Nov 28, 2004 Province: Prince Edward Island Privacy Laws: FIPPA Date Enacted: Nov 1, 2002 Province: Quebec Privacy Laws: FIPPA, PIPA Date Enacted: 1982, 1993

Province: Saskatchewan Privacy Laws: FIPPA, PHIA Date Enacted: Apr 1, 1992, Jul 22, 2005

Province: Yukon Privacy Laws: FIPPA Date Enacted: Jul 1, 1996

Other Notes:
1. Information extracted from Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada –Resource Center at www.privcom.gc.ca/information/comms_e.asp 2. FIPPA: Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act 3. PHIA: Personal Health Information Act 4. PIPA: Personal Information Act

Privacy Laws in the United States
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of documents that discuss privacy laws in the United States. However, one by Ronald B. Standler is an excellent review of the United States privacy law. It thoroughly discusses what privacy is, the history of privacy law, modern privacy law, business privacy, examples of privacy violations, garbage privacy, and journalistic invasion of privacy.3

Privacy Laws in Other Countries
Most countries have developed and implemented some level of privacy laws for the protection of individuals, businesses and government organizations within the last decade. However, it is questionable as to the extent these laws are enforced and interpreted in different jurisdictions.

A privacy guide developed by Caslon Analytics discusses privacy legislation throughout most countries in Asia.4 In includes an overview of privacy law and regional practice, western privacy principles, and reviews of specific Asian countries around the Pacific Rim. These include China and the Hong Kong SAR, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Korea, Japan, Thailand, and India.5

Links for Privacy Laws
www.privcom.gc.ca/information/comms_e.asp www.caslon.com.au/privacyguide6.htm www.caslon.com.au/privacyguide2.htm www.rbs2.com/privacy.htm www.cbc.ca/story/news/national/2003/12/31/privacy_law031231.html www.csmonitor.com/2004/1110/p15s02-stin.html www.cs.usask.ca/undergrads/cah740/475report.html www.privcom.gc.ca/fs-fi/02_05_d_15_e.asp

Some Articles on Privacy Laws
A host of articles appear daily in newspapers, magazines and in other media forms across North America. Articles deal with privacy invasion of individuals, businesses and governments.

A recent article by the Canadian Broadcasting Company discusses the new Canadian federal law for Personal Information Protection and Electronic Document Act and how it impacts the Canadian business world. It focuses on e-mail spam, telemarketing and identity theft.6

Another article entitled “Privacy lost with the touch of a keystroke?” discusses how easy it is for unsuspecting Internet users in their own home to have their personal information stolen right off their personal computer.7 A report by Curtis Hopfner called “Comparing Privacy Laws around the World” is an excellent review of the issues associated with privacy laws for different regions worldwide. The regions include Canada, United States, Europe, and Latin America. It compares accountability, transparency, use, disclosure and retention, data integrity, security, individual access, and challenging compliance. It goes on to discuss problems, alternatives and global standards relative to privacy concerns.8

Reference List
1 The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada. (2004) Privacy Legislation in Canada. Retrieved June 18, 2006, from http://www.privcom.gc.ca/fs-fi/02_05_d_15_e.asp

2 The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada. (2004) Resource Centre. Retrieved June 18, 2006, from http://www.privcom.gc.ca/information/comms_e.asp

3 Strandler, Ronald B. (1998, May 24). Privacy Law in the USA. Retrived June 18, 2006. from http://www.rbs2.com/privacy.htm

4 Caslon Analytics. (2004) Caslon Analytics Privacy Guide. Asia and the Pacific. Retrieved June 18, 2006, from http://www.caslon.com.au/privacyguide6.htm

5 Caslon Analytics. (2005) Caslon Analytics Privacy Guide. Principles. Retrieved June 18, 2006, from http://www.caslon.com.au/privacyguide2.htm

6 CBC News. (2003, December 31). New Privacy Law Alters World of Canadian Businesses. Retrived June 18, 2006. from http://www.cbc.ca/story/news/national/2003/12/31/privacy_law031231.html

7 Leach, Susan Llewelyn. (2004, November 10). Christian Science Monitor. Privacy Llost with a Touch of a Keystroke? Retrieved June 18, 2006, from http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/1110/p15s02-stin.html

8 Curtis Hopfner. (n.d.) Comparing Privacy Laws around the World. Retrived June 18, 2006. from http://www.cs.usask.ca/undergrads/cah740/475report.html