Blog Archive (Year: 2015)
Snooping: When Will People Learn?
Before being appointed Commissioner, my reading, studying and listening to the media caused me to really be concerned about staff snooping into personal information (PI) or personal health information (PHI) when there was no need to be looking. Before being appointed, I attended a conference where a speaker on security said the greatest problem for... read more
Surveillance in Personal Care Homes: A Case Study
We often get questions from those working in personal care homes and family members of the residents about the use of hidden video surveillance. So we thought we would share some of our thoughts on the issue. Imagine this scenario: Family members of Jane, an elderly woman with dementia, suspect that she is being mistreated... read more
How to Conduct an Effective Search for Records
So you have received an access to information request and you know it is not going to be easy to locate responsive records. What do you do? Here are some tips for you. First: You develop a search strategy and document everything. A search strategy could include: Searching for records in multiple formats (i.e. electronic,... read more
When Salary is Open to Public Scrutiny
The starting point of determining whether or not your salary is releasable starts with what access and privacy law applies to you in your circumstance. If you work for a government institution or local authority, then your salary is not considered your personal information. Why does it matter if it is or is not considered... read more