Innovation and the Privacy AdvantageJennifer Stoddart, Privacy Commissioner of Canada

August 25, 2010

Institute of Public Administration of Canada 62nd Annual ConferenceOttawa, Ontario

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Overview

• Implications of globalization• Technological advances and new

privacy threats• Need to keep privacy at the forefront

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Data Explosion

• Technological advances make it cheaper and faster to collect, create, share, process and store information

• Data volumes doubling every two years

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Pressures on Privacy

• Every industry an information industry

• Personal data in the context of security and public safety initiatives

• Globalization of data flows

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Role of the OPC

• Oversee compliance:– Privacy Act– PIPEDA

• Investigations• Audits• Outreach with organizations• Public awareness and education

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“Dataveillance”

• Daily activities leave trail of digital crumbs

• Top 50 U.S.web sites install average of 64 pieces of tracking technology

– Wall Street Journal

• Internet users unaware of how personal information is harvested

Google Buzz

• New social networking service promptedjoint letter from 10 data protection authorities

• Privacy protection must be considered and built in at the front end

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• Privacy Impact Assessment process• Integrating privacy into policies• Risk of function creep

Privacy in the Public Sector

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Global Digital Economy

• Regulation of businesses operating in multiple jurisdictions

• Search for international solution

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Conclusion

• Privacy protection is not an impediment to innovation and growth

• Privacy is a critical element of a free society

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