CyberGuide
Protecting Privacy
FROM: MAY-JUNE 2006 ISSUE | BY ROBIN DAY
A colleague of mine was upset recently when his favourite take-out pizza place used call display to identify him and the operator immediately recited his standard order and delivery address. I threw fuel on the fire by reminding him of the threat to national security that could result from the wrong people knowing he eats anchovies. He stormed off, vowing to take action, but returned a few minutes later, muttering something about not knowing where to start. I found a few resources to help him out:
www.privcom.gc.ca/
At the federal level, there are two privacy laws in effect: the Privacy Act and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act. This site provides information on key issues.
www.nymity.com/
Nymity Inc. provides privacy-related services and products, and the site contains a privacy roadmap that identifies the legislation applicable in Canada.
www.epic.org/
The Electronic Privacy Information Center is based in Washington, D.C., and although its focus is on U.S. issues, many of the topics cross international boundaries.
http://bcheck.scanit.be/bcheck/
Every time you access the Internet, it is possible that your surfing habits are being monitored by everyone from the kid next door to the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service. This site will scan your browser to see how secure it is.
My system passed the test with flying colours, which means I can order pizza using my computer without worrying about privacy infringements. But that also means I need to find a pizza place that accepts online orders. Oh well, back to the Web.
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Robin Day, MBA, CGA, teaches financial management at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. He is also president of Virtual Information Technologies Inc.E-mail rday@virtualit.ca.