Canadian privacy news · weekly
Privacy Pulse
Every week I scan Canada’s privacy regulators and the commentators I trust, and pull the stories that actually matter for practitioners. Below are the headlines with short excerpts and links to the originals, plus my own “Why it matters” notes on the stories worth a second look. I refresh this page weekly; the full stories always live with their publishers.
BC OIPC – News and Events
- 01Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for BC investigating Crime Stoppers breachThe Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia (OIPC) is investigating whether the British Columbia Crime Stoppers Society took adequate steps to protect personal information gathered from…Nov 3, 2026 · Read the original
- 02Canada’s information regulators call for action to help capacity-constrained small public bodies uphold access to information rightsCanada’s information regulators are calling on governments to better equip small public bodies to meet their access to information obligations, and for those bodies to build transparency into their work.Nov 2, 2026 · Read the original
- 03Canada’s federal, provincial, and territorial privacy commissioners and ombuds call for the responsible use of artificial intelligence in health and health researchCanada’s federal, provincial, and territorial privacy commissioners and ombuds (FPT privacy regulators) have issued a resolution calling on their respective governments and interested parties in the public and private…Oct 29, 2026 · Read the original
- 04Speech to the Victoria International Privacy and Security SummitThe themes of this year’s summit are urgent given where we find ourselves at this moment – as a province, as a country, and as individuals trying to find our footing during a time of both massive upheaval in the…Oct 29, 2026 · Read the original
- 05Editorial: To build trust in the Information Age, we need a new social contractWe are in a trust crisis . Across Canada and around the world, people’s trust in the governments and organizations that are part of their everyday lives is under mounting pressure amid the spread of disruptive…Oct 28, 2026 · Read the original
- 06OpenAI challenges OIPC production order related to requested documents as part of investigation into the Tumbler Ridge shootingYesterday, OpenAI challenged a production order issued by the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia (OIPC) for documents requested as part of an OIPC active investigation related the…
Why it matters: OpenAI is now fighting a production order from the BC commissioner over documents tied to the Tumbler Ridge shooting investigation. The outcome will define how far a provincial regulator can reach into a global AI company's records, which is exactly the enforcement question AI governance programs have been waiting on. This one is worth watching closely.
Oct 27, 2026 · Read the original - 07Right to Know Week September 28-Oct. 2, 2026 Commissioner Harvey highlights essential role of access to informationThe Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia (OIPC) has released the following statement for Right to Know Week 2026, which the office will mark from September 28 to October 2, 2026.Sep 28, 2026 · Read the original
BC OIPC – Rulings and Reports
- 01Provincial Health Services AuthorityUnder the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA), an individual (applicant) asked the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) for access to records related to a provincial public health order.…Oct 30, 2026 · Read the original
- 02British Columbia Ferry Services Inc.An applicant requested information about her employment from her former employer, British Columbia Ferry Services Inc. (BC Ferries). BC Ferries provided responsive records but withheld some information from them under…Oct 29, 2026 · Read the original
- 03Islands TrustThe Islands Trust (Trust) requested authorization to disregard a portion of an access request under ss. 43(c)(i) (responding to the request would unreasonably interfere with its operations) and 43(d)(ii) (excessively…Oct 28, 2026 · Read the original
- 04City of CoquitlamA third party requested a review of the City of Coquitlam’s decision to disclose some information in dispute in records relating to a request for proposal. The adjudicator found that neither s. 21(1)(harm to the…Oct 26, 2026 · Read the original
- 05Sunshine Coast Regional DistrictThe Sunshine Coast Regional District (the District) applied for permission under s. 43 of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA), to disregard twelve access requests made by an individual. The…Oct 23, 2026 · Read the original
- 06Township of LangleyAn applicant requested access under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) to records about their lease agreement with the Township of Langley (Township). The Township provided responsive…Oct 22, 2026 · Read the original
- 07Coast Mountain Bus Company Ltd.An applicant requested that the public body provide access to specific information under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA). In response, the public body released most of the requested…Oct 22, 2026 · Read the original
- 08Ministry of HealthAn applicant asked the Ministry of Health (the Ministry), under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA), for access to records related to amending the Family Compensation Act. In this inquiry,…Oct 21, 2026 · Read the original
Michael Geist
- 01From Making Web Giants Pay to Paying Media Giants: Budget 2026 Replaces the Government’s Internet Platform Strategy With $1.5 Billion in Taxpayer Dollars for Culture and NewsThe government’s Budget 2026 made culture a major focus, with headlines trumpeting billions in spending and a potential new personal income tax credit for creators. One aspect that should not get lost is a major…Nov 6, 2026 · Read the original
- 02Has the Government Read Its Own Bill? What Three Days of House Debate Revealed About Bill C-34 Before the Committee Hearings BeginBill C-34 , which would ban social media accounts for under-16s, is now before the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, which just approved plans to hold at least 16 hours of hearings starting the week of November…Nov 5, 2026 · Read the original
- 03Surveillance By Design: Government Officials Say Lawful Access Could Reach Gaming Platforms, Daycares and AI ServicesLawful access has long been associated with establishing the rules under which telecom and Internet companies may be required to disclose subscriber information, retain metadata, and install government-mandated…Nov 4, 2026 · Read the original
- 04Canada’s First Digital Trade Agreement: Why the Canada-EU Deal Will Likely Follow Europe’s Template and What That Means for Canadian Digital LawLast week’s Canada-EU summit in Montreal delivered several new collaborative initiatives as part of Canada’s pivot toward the EU , but among the most notable from a digital policy perspective was the conclusion of…Nov 3, 2026 · Read the original
- 05The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 281: Mikolaj Barczentewicz on Europe’s Digital Sovereignty Push, CADA, and the Implications for CanadaCanada’s pivot to Europe took another step at last week’s Canada-EU summit in Montreal, where the two sides launched what they call an “ Alliance for the Future .” The announcements ranged from critical minerals and…Nov 2, 2026 · Read the original
- 06Ofcom Did the Work Canada Plans to Skip: What the UK’s Age Verification Report Reveals About the Bill C-34 Social Media BanThe most contentious aspect of the government’s Bill C-34 social media ban for under-16s is that millions of Canadians will need mandated age verification to create social media accounts. The bill tacitly acknowledges…Oct 30, 2026 · Read the original
- 07The Age Verification Bill That Won’t Die: How Bill S-209 Complicates the Government’s Bill C-34 Online Safety PlanBill C-34, the government’s Safe Social Media Act , was touted as its approach to online age verification, adding a mandated age check for social media account creation for those under-16 and age verification for…Oct 29, 2026 · Read the original
- 08The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 280: A Fall Update on Where Things Stand on Canadian Digital Policy ReformsParliament is back in full swing and with it debate on a wide range of digital bills, including lawful access, social media rules, AI regulation, and privacy reform. This week’s Law Bytes podcast provides an update on…Oct 26, 2026 · Read the original
EFF Deeplinks
- 01Google Forcing AI on Students Is BSGoogle is rightfully facing blowback for forcing K-12 schools to enable AI if they wanted to keep using Google search. The company quickly backtracked and decoupled and turned off the services by default, but made it…Nov 6, 2026 · Read the original
- 02Presenting 'Desire Lines: Encoding Queer Digital Futures'What does the digital future look like? Who gets to imagine it, shape it, and make it real? Building a freer, more inclusive digital age requires not only challenging systems of surveillance and control, but also making…Nov 6, 2026 · Read the original
- 03EFF Submission to OHCHR Consultation on Child Rights and Safety in the Digital Environment“ The safety of young people in the digital environment cannot be assessed without also considering the safety of young people in offline environments. For millions of young people around the world, the digital…Nov 6, 2026 · Read the original
- 04When the Watchdogs Are Silenced: India's Crackdown on Those Documenting Online CensorshipOn November 3, our colleagues at the Software Freedom Law Center, India (SFLC.in) received notifications from X that the Delhi Police had issued takedown requests targeting 42 URLs. Among the accounts and posts targeted…Nov 6, 2026 · Read the original
- 05Reflecting on Digital Rights Wins and Losses in SacramentoCalifornia’s 2026 legislative session has officially adjourned and it’s time to reflect on the wins and losses that have shaped Californians’ digital rights landscape this year. This was the second year of a two-year…Nov 5, 2026 · Read the original
- 06Join EFF to Celebrate the Life of Aaron SwartzJoin us to celebrate the legacy of Aaron Swartz on Nov. 8, 2026. With the organizers of Aaron Swartz Day , we’re honoring his life with an in-person and remote hackathon. This event is supported by several organizations…Nov 5, 2026 · Read the original
- 07We’re Asking the Ninth Circuit to Hold Reverse Location Warrants Categorically UnconstitutionalYesterday, along with the ACLU, EFF filed an amicus brief in the Ninth Circuit court of appeals in United States v. Spurlock , a case involving a “tower dump” warrant. These overbroad warrants require cellular providers…Nov 4, 2026 · Read the original
- 08Google Summaries Aren't About AI, They're About Lock-InWhether they call it AI summaries, knowledge panels, or AMP, Google takes actions that are less about functionality and more about locking you into its own ecosystem. Knowing that makes it possible for all of us to…Nov 4, 2026 · Read the original
OPC – News and announcements
- 01News release: Completed 2025-2026 Contributions Program projects reveal insights related to personal information collection by smart devicesNews releaseNov 6, 2026 · Read the original
- 02News release: Privacy Commissioner of Canada appears before Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs on Bill C-22News releaseNov 2, 2026 · Read the original
- 03Media advisory: Privacy Commissioner of Canada to appear before Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs on Bill C-22Media advisoryNov 2, 2026 · Read the original
- 04News release: Canada’s federal, provincial, and territorial privacy commissioners and ombuds call for the responsible use of artificial intelligence in health and health researchNews release
Why it matters: Every privacy regulator in the country just told governments the same thing: put real guardrails on AI in health care and health research. The joint ChatGPT investigation was the template, and this resolution reads like the enforcement roadmap that follows it. If you run AI anywhere near health data, I would treat this as the direction of travel, not a press release.
Oct 29, 2026 · Read the original - 05News release: Privacy Commissioner of Canada to investigate data breach involving Crime StoppersNews release
Why it matters: The Commissioner just opened an investigation into a breach at Navigate360, the platform behind Canadian Crime Stoppers tip lines. Tip data is about as sensitive as it gets, and the fact that PIPEDA reaches here at all is notable, since non-profits usually sit outside the Act. I expect the eventual findings to become the reference point for SaaS vendors serving quasi-public programs.
Oct 27, 2026 · Read the original - 06News release: Loblaw commits to strengthening security measures following privacy breachNews releaseOct 26, 2026 · Read the original
- 07News release: Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada publishes comments to government consultation on AI transparencyNews releaseOct 23, 2026 · Read the original
- 08News release: Privacy Commissioner of Canada launches Children’s Privacy Code to support strong online protections for youthNews releaseOct 20, 2026 · Read the original
OPC – Investigations into businesses (PIPEDA findings)
- 01Compliance Letter to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (“OPC”) by Loblaw Companies Limited (“Loblaw”)Compliance Letter to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (“OPC”) by Loblaw Companies Limited (“Loblaw”)Oct 21, 2026 · Read the original
Headlines and short excerpts are shown with attribution and link directly to the original publishers; full articles always live with their sources. “Why it matters” notes are my own editorial commentary. Spot something I should cover? Let me know.