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Privacy Impact Assessment Guidelines
PART
FOUR - PIA TOOL KIT
Documenting
the Data Flow - Step One
A business activity can be described
from an information management perspective as a series of processes consisting
of:
- information collection (data inputs);
- transaction processing involving
the application of rules, validations and decision-making;
- the provision of a product or
service in terms of a decision, benefit, or licence (output); and
- transactional data recording the
above events. These may be in the form of temporary records such as system
logs, paper forms used prior to input, and data records or subject files in
any media.
Step One involves a two-part process.
The first is the preparation of a business process diagram. At a minimum, the
diagram should identify, at a general level, the major components of the business
process and how personal information is collected, used, disclosed, and retained
through this process.
The business process diagram may
be prepared using any of a number of methodologies. In choosing an approach,
ministries should consider the nature and complexity of the proposed project.
Some possible approaches to mapping the business process would include:
- Flow Charts. Are most useful for relatively simple applications. Flow charts provide a good
general sense of program steps and data flows, along with an outline of the
relationships among these elements and the progression between them.
- Structured Analysis.
Identifying major steps in a program, and then breaking
these steps down, according to function, until the project can be represented
as a progression through a series of small steps. This is a good way of breaking
very complex projects down into more manageable components.
- Object-oriented Analysis.
Combines the mapping of processes with a mapping
of the data flows attached to those processes. It should set out the processes,
the organization of these processes (i.e. the architecture), specify which
data are being used, and where in each process they are being used.
While the business process diagram documents
the high level flow of personal information, it does not provide an adequate level
of detail for subsequent stages in the privacy impact assessment process, and
particularly for the privacy analysis. Thus, the second part of the process involves
a more detailed analysis of data flows that builds on the business process diagram.
This analysis provides details of how personal information is collected, used,
and disclosed based on a series of questions. The focus on the analysis is on
those aspects of the information management life cycle that may have the greatest
impact on determining whether the proposals successfully meet privacy requirements.
Obviously, the more detailed the business program is, the simpler the second stage
will be.
The framework for this analysis can
be found at Figure A2.
Goals
of Step One
When step one is completed, an individual
reviewing the diagram and data flow analysis will be able to identify and trace
personal information from the point of collection to the point where all copies
of the information are destroyed or permanently archived. While tracing the life
cycle of the personal information, the reviewer would have an accurate description
of all the stakeholders who accessed or used the information under specific conditions,
and where copies of such records may exist.
A
Note on Complex Systems
Where there are complex subsystems or
information flows, as in a multi-ministry smart card initiative, for example,
it may be more manageable to have multiple data flow analyses. In some systems,
a hierarchy of data flow analyses might be required to accurately portray the
flow of personal information during its life cycle through each responsible institution
and its agents. Completion of the charts and analysis may require co-operation
between organizations.
The final result should always be
a charting of all the personal information collected, directly or indirectly,
by or on behalf of an organization, illustrating the regular and irregular uses
and disclosures of the information, and how it is stored.
The
Data Flow Analysis
The first section A.1 of the analysis
is the identification and description of the personal information. Normally this
would be done in clusters of data elements which relate to the types of information
used in delivery, collected on forms, indirectly collected or disclosed to other
parties. Examples would be basic identification or biographical information, eligibility
data, financial data, decision data, benefit or licence data.
The second section A.2 records all
of the direct and indirect collection activities by program staff, other individuals
and organizations relating to the above data element or cluster category.
Section A.3 documents the planned
or regular disclosures of the data elements or cluster. It also identifies the
custody of both program and transaction related records that contain personal
identifiers. These forms of records are increasingly common in large systems
using multiple business partners in the information life cycle.
Irregular disclosures are to be listed
in section A.4.
If there are any other records that
may be populated with the data elements or clusters not previously captured,
they should be listed in section A.5, along with an explanation of who is responsible
for the record, and what privacy protections apply.
| Section A.1
Program/Initiative ________________________________________________
Page ___ 0f _____
Data Elements/Category__________________
No ____ of ______
Name_________________
List and describe the personally identifiable data
elements in the category:
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A2 Information Collection
| Collection is performed by |
What is the statutory authority for the direct collection and/or indirect collection? |
Is the PI Directly Collected from customer
[Yes/No} |
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Dedicated Program Staff
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Other OPS Staff e.g. staff of another program or ministry
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Dedicated Contractor e.g. a contractor who works solely for the program
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Generic Service Provider e.g. a contractor who works for multiple ministries or programs simultaneously
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Client Agent e.g. solicitor, trustee, physician, or other service provider
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Other
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A2 Information Collection
If Not Directly Collected is the Personal Information (PI) Indirectly Collected from:
| Collection is performed by |
Publicly Accessible Governmental Databases - name(s) |
Intra/inter Governmental Information sharing agreements - name(s) |
Private Sector information sharing agreements - name(s) |
Multi Program Data Marts / Warehouses |
Subscription to private sector data services - name |
Other name |
Itemize Customer PI disclosed in order to access 3rd party customer data records |
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Dedicated Program Staff
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Other OPS Staff e.g. staff of another program or ministry
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Dedicated Contractor e.g. a contractor who works solely for the program
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Generic Service Provider e.g. a contractor who works for multiple ministries or programs simultaneously
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Client Agent e.g. solicitor, trustee, physician, or other service provider
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Other
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Use
of Information
Under s. 41 of FIPPA, an institution
must not use personal information in its custody or under its control except:
- where the person to whom the information
relates has identified that information in particular and consented to its use;
- for the purpose for which it
was obtained or compiled or for a consistent purpose; or
- for the purpose for which the
information may be disclosed to the institution under section 42 or under
section 32 of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy
Act.
Attach a description of the uses of
personal information in the organization, indicating the authority for those uses.
| A.3
List Regular Business Transactions That
Disclose or Give Access to Personally Identifiable Data Records to: |
Yes |
No |
Limited Access |
Full Access |
Is a New PI Record
Created as a result?
Describe |
Identify Custodian(s)
of New PI Record Created |
Is a Log of Access
Transactions Created by One or Both
Parties?
If yes, identify Custodian(s). |
What is the Authority
for Disclosure under FIPPA? |
| OPS program or systems
staff |
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| OPS program auditors |
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| Other OPS Systems
staff |
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| Other OPS Staff e.g.
staff of another program or ministry |
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| Dedicated Contractor
e.g. a contractor who works solely for the program |
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| Generic Service Provider
e.g. a contractor who works for multiple ministries or programs simultaneously |
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| Client Agent e.g.
solicitor, trustee, physician, or other service provider. |
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| Financial Institutions |
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| Financial Transaction
Agents |
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| External Contract
Auditors |
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A.3
List Regular Business Transactions That
Disclose or Give Access to Personally Identifiable Data Records to: |
Yes |
No |
Limited Access |
Full Access |
Is a New PI Record
Created as a result?
Describe |
Identify Custodian(s)
of New PI Record Created |
Is a Log of Access
Transactions Created by One or Both
Parties?
If yes, identify Custodian(s). |
What is the Authority
for Disclosure under FIPPA? |
By Legislative Mandate to Public
or Private agencies
- name |
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Data Marts/ warehouses
other than when fully
anonymized |
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By Information Sharing Agreement
(ISA) to intra/inter governmental programs
- name |
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| To the Public or For Sale to
the Public or Commercial Interests |
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By ISA to Non-governmental programs
- name |
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A.3
List Regular Business Transactions That
Disclose or Give Access to Personally Identifiable Data Records to: |
Yes |
No |
Limited Access |
Full Access |
Is a New PI Record
Created as a result?
Describe |
Identify Custodian(s)
of New PI Record Created |
Is a Log of Access
Transactions Created by One or Both
Parties?
If yes, identify Custodian(s). |
What is the Authority
for Disclosure under FIPPA? |
| To Client by Self Service in
any media |
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| To Client via 3rd Party |
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| Client via Written Program request |
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| Other |
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A.4
Note Irregular
Business Transactions that Disclose or Give Access to Personally
Identifiable Records to: |
Yes |
No |
Limited
Access |
Full
Access |
Is
a New PI Record
Created?
Describe |
Identify
Custodian(s) of New PI Record Created |
Is
a Log of Access
Transactions
Created by One or Both Parties?
If yes, identify Custodian(s). |
What
is the Authority for Disclosure Under FIPPA? |
| Recognized Law Enforcement
(excluding police) agents per FIPPA without a warrant or subpoena. |
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| Other public sector
program investigators,
by data sharing agreement,
on request. |
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| Other Disclosures |
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A.5
Identify any other
PI record database or log produced by business or system transactions
that are not listed elsewhere and are not under direct program custody
or control. Include temporary and permanent record collections. |
Record
and contents |
Under control of |
In
the
custody of |
Applicable
privacy legislation and/or contractual privacy provisions |
| e.g.
financial settlements provider(s) transaction logs, temporary update data
stored in system pending validation, call centre/help desk call logs,
etc. |
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THE PRIVACY ANALYSIS
- STEP TWO
As a process, a PIA is designed to provide evidence of compliance with privacy principles. Step Two,
the privacy analysis, contributes to this goal by taking analysts through a series
of key questions that interrogate a proposal's technical compliance with FIPPA
and relevant program statutes. Additional questions aim at measuring broader conformity
with general privacy principles and at anticipating likely public reaction to
key issues associated with the proposal. The goal, then, is not simply
to ascertain that FIPPA requirements have been met, but also to flesh out broader
privacy issues that may raise public concerns, and so should be brought to the
attention of decision makers.
Not all questions in the analysis
section will be relevant to every proposal. By the same token, the questions
listed may not reflect all the considerations that will be important in a given
context, particularly where program statutes may outline particular requirements
with regard to privacy or where there is evidence (e.g. from other jurisdictions)
that public concern may focus on a particular element of a proposal. This section,
therefore, can and should be modified where necessary to ensure that all relevant
questions have been considered. Questions should not, however, be focused solely
on strict technical compliance with legislative requirements, but should attempt
to identify areas of potential public concern.
Generally problem areas with privacy issues will in most
cases be found to relate to those questions where the answer is in the
"NO" column for each principle. A summary of privacy concerns for each
of the 10 principles may be noted in the "NOTES" box provided and
flagged for further analysis.
The principles and questions listed
below are organized around the ten principles of the CSA Standard, which are:
- Accountability,
- Identifying Purposes,
- Limiting Collection,
- Consent,
- Limiting Use, Disclosure, and
Retention,
- Accuracy,
- Safeguards,
- Openness,
- Individual Access, and
- Challenging Compliance
Federal, provincial and territorial
Ministers responsible for the Information Highway agreed, in June 1998, to support
the CSA Standard as a minimum standard for privacy protection in all jurisdictions
and to avoid, wherever possible, the development of inconsistent approaches.
The CSA Standard is also the basis of the proposed federal privacy law (Bill
C-6), which, if passed, will regulate the collection, use and disclosure of
personal information broadly in the private sector.
Principle
1 -- Accountability
An organization is responsible
for personal information under its control and shall designate an individual or
individuals who are accountable for the organization's compliance with the following
principles.
1.1
Accountability for the organization's
compliance with the principles rests with the designated individual(s) (or, where
the institution is subject to FIPPA, with the "head" as defined by the Act in
s. 2 and in O. Reg. 460), even though other individuals within the organization
may be responsible for the day-to-day collection and processing of personal information.
In addition, other individuals within the organization may be delegated to act
on behalf of the designated individual(s).
1.2
The identity of the individual(s) designated
by the organization to oversee the organization's compliance with the principles
shall be made known upon request.
1.3
An organization is responsible for personal
information in its possession or custody, including information that has been
transferred to a third party for processing. The organization should use contractual
or other means to provide a comparable level of protection when the information
is being processed by a third party.
FIPPA makes institutions accountable
for the collection, use, disclosure and retention of personal information managed
directly or on their behalf by other public or private sector partners. In programs
that rely on partnerships, organizations may find it useful to develop program-specific
privacy codes or standards that clearly articulate expectations and responsibilities,
as in the ESD Privacy Standard.
1.4
The CSA Standard requires organizations
to implement policies and practices to give effect to the principles, including
- implementing procedures to protect
personal information;
- establishing procedures to receive
and respond to complaints and inquiries;
- training staff and communicating
to staff information about the organization's policies and practices; and
- developing information to explain
the organization's policies and procedures.
Some aspects of these requirements
are captured under sections of FIPPA/MFIPPA, but in this area the requirements
of the CSA Standard are, overall, more rigorous. Organizations working with
private sector partners who are required by federal law to meet the Standard
in an arrangement where FIPPA/MFIPPA do not apply should, however, consider
these requirements.
Discussion
While accountability for compliance
with privacy requirements ultimately rests with the Ahead of a public body
(e.g. the Minister), organizations may find it useful to designate a Project
Privacy Manager (PPM) who will be responsible for the management and coordination
of information resources, policies and procedures, and for overseeing the completion
of the PIA.
Questions For Analysis
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YES |
NO |
| Has responsibility for the
PIA been assigned to a Project Privacy Manager or other individual(s)? |
_ |
_ |
| Where the custody or control
of personal information will be transferred to other public or private
sector partners as part of the project: |
_ |
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| Has the chain of accountability been documented, up to and including the
Minister=s
ultimate accountability as the head under FIPPA? |
_ |
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Are the performance requirements of the accountable parties comprehensively
specified in a measurable way, and subject to specific performance or
compliance reviews? |
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Where public and private sector partners are not subject to FIPPA, have
independent third-party audit mechanisms been incorporated into performance
and partnership agreements such that public accountability is assured? |
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Where public and private sector partners are not subject to FIPPA, has
the option to schedule them under FIPPA been fully evaluated and documented? |
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Will the ministry be provided with the results of regularly scheduled
audits and compliance checks on the privacy practices of external partners
and will those reports be made available to the program clients? |
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| Have legal opinions been sought
regarding: |
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_ |
| Legislative authority to transfer
ministry program delivery responsibilities to partners, including a consideration
of the authority for partners to collect, use, disclose or retain personal
information as necessary on behalf of ministries? and/or |
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Legislative authority to alter or limit in any material way the collection,
use or disclosure of personal information as authorized by ministry program
statutes and FIPPA for the purpose of delivering services through the
partners? and/or |
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Legislative authority to set service standards and procedures for client
authentication and the legal authority to collect and use personal information
for authentication purposes? and/or |
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Legislative authority to amend or modify the delegation or designation
of statutory program functions to the partners? |
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| Has the organization retained
the legal or contractual right to develop mechanisms to determine whether
personal information collected on its behalf is disclosed to third parties
for any purposes? |
_ |
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| Does the organization have
specific audit and enforcement mechanisms that oversee the collection,
use and disclosure of personal information by public or private sector
partners? |
_ |
_ |
Anticipating Public
Expectations
In the past, concerns have been raised
about the implications of ASD for access to government information and the protection
of personal information. Expressions of such concern can be found, for example,
in the Information and Privacy Commissioner's 1998 Annual Report, which comments
on the privatization of Ontario Hydro, and changes to the Safety and Consumer
Statutes Administration Act, 1996 such that independent non-profit corporations
will take over supervisory and inspection functions in a number of areas, including
elevators, amusement rides and gasoline handling.
Other jurisdictions are also facing
important challenges with regard to access to information and privacy in ASD. With this in mind, analysts should consider the following
questions:
Does the proposal entail a real or
perceived decrease in public accountability (for example, through the use of
private sector partners)?
Has a strategy been developed for
communicating to the public about measures that are in place to ensure appropriate
accountability?
Notes
Principle
2 - Identifying Purposes
The purposes for which personal
information is collected shall be identified by the organization at or before
the time the information is collected.
2.1
The organization shall document the
purposes for which personal information is collected in order to comply with the
Openness principle and the Individual Access principle.
Under s. 39 of FIPPA, an organization
collecting personal information must inform the individual to whom the information
relates of:
- the legal authority for the collection;
- the principal purpose or purposes
for which the personal information is intended to be used; and
- the title, business address and
business telephone number of a public official who can answer the individual's
questions about the collection.
This does not apply where the head may
refuse to disclose the personal information under subsection 14 (1) or (2) (law
enforcement).
2.2
Identifying the purposes for which personal
information is collected at or before the time of collection allows organizations
to determine the information they need to collect to fulfill these purposes. The
Limiting Collection principle requires an organization to collect only that information
necessary for the purposes that have been identified.
Identifying purposes enables organizations
to focus their data collection on only that information which is necessary for
the stated purposes, or to find alternatives to the collection of personal information.
This is critical to effectively limiting collection. Since data collection and
maintenance is expensive, "identifying purposes" is the first step in reducing
operating costs throughout the information life cycle.
2.3
Organizations shall provide a statement
of purposes (notice of collection, s. 39 (2)) to be made available through all
mediums of delivery (i.e. paper forms, counter, phone, on-line, automated telephone
or kiosk service) and shall identify the personal information to be collected,
the authority for its collection, the principal purpose(s) for which it is collected,
and the name, position, address and telephone number of a contact person.
In addition, s. 45 of FIPPA requires
annual publication of an index (the Directory of Records) of all personal information
banks setting forth, in respect of each personal information bank:
- its name and location;
- the legal authority for its
establishment;
- the types of personal information
maintained in it;
- how the personal information
is used on a regular basis;
- to whom the personal information
is disclosed on a regular basis;
- the categories of individuals
about whom personal information is maintained; and
- the policies and practices
applicable to the retention and disposal of the personal information.
Collection of information that is not
personally identifiable, such as the automated collection of statistical transaction
information, does not have to be described in the notice of collection or the
personal information bank section of the Directory of Records.
2.4
When personal information that has been
collected is to be used for a purpose not previously identified, or for a purpose
not consistent with a previously identified purpose, the new purpose shall be
identified prior to use. Unless the new purpose is permitted by law, the consent
of the individual is required before information can be used for that purpose.
(FIPPA, s. 41, s. 46)
Where personal information is used
or disclosed for a purpose other than those identified, FIPPA requires that
a record of the use or disclosure be appended to the record containing the personal
information (s. 46).
2.5
Persons collecting personal information
should be able to explain to individuals the purposes for which the information
is being collected, as per FIPPA s. 39 (2).
2.6
This principle is linked closely
to the Limiting Collection principle and the Limiting Use, Disclosure, and Retention
principle.
Discussion
Statements of purpose should be simple,
and may imply certain consistent purposes. For example, a statement that customer
financial information, such as a credit card number or cheque, is used for the
purposes of processing payment for a good or service (such as a fishing license
or provincial park reservation) would reasonably include disclosure to a collection
agency in the event of non-payment.
Care must be taken to ensure that
consistent purposes are reasonable and not contrived; a full disclosure of purposes
is required.
Questions for Analysis
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YES |
NO |
| Has a clear relationship been
established between the personal information to be collected and the program=s
functional and operational requirements? |
_ |
_ |
| Have all options to minimize
the routine collection of personal information been considered? |
_ |
_ |
| Does the notice of collection
contain the specific purposes, the legal authorities for collection, and
the contact information for the official designated to respond to queries
regarding the purposes of collection, or |
_ |
_ |
| Is there documentation regarding
a waiver of notice, or is notice not required as per a specific FIPPA
exception? |
_ |
_ |
| If there are secondary purposes
that are not required to be included in the notice of collection (e.g.
audit trail information, transaction validation, financial settlements),
have these been documented elsewhere, such as in the Directory of Records,
or attached to the record as per s. 46 of FIPPA? |
_ |
_ |
| Is client consent sought for
secondary uses of personal information, such as service monitoring? |
_ |
_ |
| Is the notice of collection
made available through all mediums of delivery (i.e. paper forms, counter,
phone, automated telephone or kiosk service mediums) and does it identify: |
_ |
_ |
- the personal information to be collected,
- the authority for its collection,
- the principal purpose(s) for which it is collected,
- the name, position, address and telephone number
of a contact person?
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| Does the notice of collection
clearly distinguish between personal information collected for program
purposes and personal information collected by partners for other purposes?
Alternatively, are separate notices provided? |
_ |
_ |
Anticipating Public
Expectations
Are the purposes identified consistent
with what public expectations are likely to be given the nature of the initiative?
See further questions under Openness.
Notes
Principle
3 -- Consent
The knowledge and consent of
the individual are required for the collection, use, or disclosure of personal
information, except where otherwise permitted under FIPPA.
Note: In certain circumstances
personal information can be collected, used or disclosed without the knowledge
and consent of the individual. For example, legal, medical, or security reasons
may make it impossible or impractical to seek consent. When information is being
collected for the detection and prevention of fraud or for law enforcement,
seeking the consent of the individual might defeat the purpose of collecting
the information. Seeking an individual's consent may be impossible or inappropriate
when the individual is a minor, seriously ill, or mentally incapacitated.
3.1
Where consent is required for the
indirect collection of personal information and the subsequent use or disclosure
of information, an organization should seek consent for the use or disclosure
of the information at the time as it seeks consent for collection.
Consent for indirect collection should
generally include:
- the identification of the personal
information to be collected;
- the source from which the personal
information may be collected; and
- the name of the institution
that is to collect the personal information.
A record should be kept with the date
and the details of the authorization.
3.2
The principle requires "knowledge and
consent". Organizations shall make a reasonable effort to ensure that the individual
is advised of the purposes for which the information will be used. To make the
consent meaningful, the purposes must be stated in such a manner that the individual
can reasonably understand how the information will be used or disclosed (FIPPA,
s. 39 (2)). For example, if address information is to be used for the mailing
of related literature, it would be important to distinguish between a business
sending its own or related firms mailings from the address list in its possession,
and the sale or release of that address list to other firms or generic direct
marketing agencies. (See FIPPA s. 43)
3.3
An organization may not, as a condition
of the supply of a product or service, require an individual to consent to the
collection, use, or disclosure of information beyond that required to fulfil the
explicitly specified and legitimate purposes such as those authorized by legislation
(FIPPA, s. 38 (2).
3.4
In obtaining consent, the reasonable
expectations of the individual are relevant. For example, a public utility commission
may disclose personal information to a debt collection agency to recover monies
owed to the commission for utility bills in arrears. Such disclosures would reasonably
be expected by persons who have not discharged their debts to the commission.
On the other hand, an individual would not reasonably expect that personal information
given to a health-care professional would be given to a company selling health-care
products, unless consent were obtained. Consent shall not be obtained through
deception.
Under sections 42(c), 43 FIPPA /
s.32(c), 33 MFIPPA, personal information may be disclosed for the purpose(s)
for which it was originally collected, or for a consistent purpose. A purpose
is a consistent purpose only if the individual from whom the information was
directly collected might reasonably have expected such a disclosure of the information.
For further elaboration on this point, see Principle 5.
3.5
The way in which an organization seeks
consent may vary, depending on the circumstances and the type of information
collected. Some examples would be:
- an application form may be
used to seek consent, collect information, and inform the individual of the
use that will be made of the information. By completing and signing the form,
the individual is giving consent to the collection and the specified uses;
- a checkoff box may be used
to allow individuals to express their consent. Individuals who do not check
the box are assumed not to consent;
- consent may be given orally
when information is collected over the telephone; and
- consent may be given at the
time that individuals use a product or service.
Generally, seeking written consent is
preferable because it provides the best evidence that consent was given. A written
consent should specify:
- the particular personal information
to be used;
- how or for what purpose the
information will be used;
- the date of the consent; and
- the institution to which the
consent is given.
Where consent is obtained verbally,
a notation should be made on the file and/or record indicating that verbal consent
to use the personal information for a particular purpose was obtained, and recording
the circumstances of the consent.
3.6
An individual may withdraw consent
at any time, subject to legal or contractual restrictions and reasonable notice.
The organization should inform the individual of the implications of such withdrawal
and ensure information systems have the capacity to record and act upon the
withdrawal of consent.
Discussion
While authority for the use of personal
information may flow from a number of sources, including program statutes and
the consistent purposes rationale, consent is generally favoured as the underpinning
of fair information practices.
Sometimes the purpose for which the
information is collected is obvious. For example, an individual who inserts
a long distance card into a telephone reasonably expects the telephone company
to use the personal information for the purposes of billing the cardholder.
This purpose so closely aligns with the data subject's expectations that consent
is expressed by their act of inserting the card into the telephone.
Nonetheless, the individual has a
right to know what the principle purposes of the collection are, or indeed that
there are no other intended purposes for the information. The application which
the individual completes in order to obtain the card should identify all the
purposes. The list of purposes need not be so inclusive that individuals will
not read or comprehend it.
While consent may be sought in various
ways, organizations should be sensitive to public expectations when determining
which method to employ. Experience in the private sector suggests that consumers
are generally hostile to methods of seeking consent that rely on an opt-out,
rather than an opt-in to positively indicate consent. In addition, the proposed
federal legislation, Bill C-6, which will apply broadly throughout the private
sector, operates on the basis of consent. This is likely to have a significant
influence on public expectations, and may result in mounting pressure for government
programs to place a greater emphasis on consent.
Questions For Analysis
| |
YES |
NO |
|
Does consent require a positive action by the customer,
rather than being assumed as the default? |
|
|
|
Is consent to indirectly collect, use, and disclose personal
information clear and unambiguous? |
|
|
|
Where personal information is collected indirectly from third
parties, is consent obtained from the individual to whom the
information pertains by either the organization collecting
indirectly or the organization disclosing the information? |
|
|
|
Does the proposal envision possible secondary uses for the
personal information collected?
If yes, does the authority for those uses flow from: |
|
|
consent?
the consistent purpose rationale?
other statutory authority? |
|
|
|
Is consent sought for secondary uses of personal information,
such as service enhancement, resource management or research? |
|
|
|
Where necessary, are mechanisms in place to obtain consent
for the use of personal information for purposes not previously
identified? (See the EIA Privacy Design Principles) |
|
|
|
Can a client's refusal to consent to the collection or use
of personal information for a secondary purpose, unless required
by law, be honoured without disrupting service? |
|
|
|
Does refusal to consent to secondary uses of personal
information by any service delivery partners effect the level of
service provided to an individual with regard to authorized
governmental transactions? |
|
|
Anticipating Public
Expectations
Are the proposed consent provisions
consistent with existing standards in comparable areas of the public or private
sector?
Is the form of the consent being
sought (for example, opt-in or opt-out) likely to stimulate negative public
reaction?
Has the opportunity for the data
subject to participate knowledgeably in decisions affecting their personal information
been maximized through the use of informed consent?
Notes
Principle
4 -- Limiting Collection
The collection of personal information
shall be limited to that which is necessary for the purposes identified by the
organization. Information shall be collected by fair and lawful means.
4.1
Organizations shall not collect personal
information indiscriminately. Both the amount and the type of information collected
must be limited to that which is necessary to fulfill the purposes identified.
In addition, one of three conditions set out in s. 38 (2) of FIPPA must exist
in order for personal information to be collected:
- The collection must be expressly
authorized by statute;
- The information must be used
for law enforcement purposes; or
- The information must be necessary
for the proper administration of a lawfully authorized activity.
The authority to collect personal information
is limited to the collection of necessary information.
4.2
Personal information must be collected
by fair and lawful means. Organizations must not collect information by misleading
or deceiving individuals about the purposes for which they are doing so.
4.3
Personal information must be collected
directly from the individual to whom it relates unless FIPPA expressly permits
indirect collection, as set out in s. 39.
An individual may consent to an indirect
collection of his or her own personal information. The authorization must include:
- an identification of the personal
information to be collected;
- the source from which personal
information may be collected;
- the name of the institution that
is to collect the personal information.
4.4
This principle is linked closely to
the Identifying Purposes principle and the Consent principle.
Discussion
Organizations should consider the business
objectives of data collection and examine alternative means of achieving those
objectives. In some cases, these can be satisfied without collecting personally
identifiable information, thereby dispensing with additional administrative requirements
to meet policy and legal obligations regarding privacy and security.
For example, where card readers are
used by transportation companies instead of tokens, the basic information needed
is whether the individual is authorized to make the trip. For planning purposes,
it may be useful to know a vehicle's entrance and exit points and time of day
of travel, but this does not necessitate collection of personally identifiable
information about the individual card holder. Collecting only the information
necessary may limit the degree of privacy risk associated with a given initiative,
and may also satisfy business efficiency goals.
Questions For Analysis
| |
YES |
NO |
| Is the collection of personal
information: |
_ |
_ |
| expressly authorized by a
statute, or |
_ |
_ |
| does it relate directly to
and is it necessary for the proper administration of a lawfully authorized
activity, or, |
_ |
_ |
| is it exempt from notice under
section 39(3) of FIPPA (law enforcement)? |
_ |
_ |
| Is personal information collected
directly from the individual? |
_ |
_ |
| |
YES |
NO |
| If no, is there indirect collection
of personal information from third parties? |
_ |
_ |
| If so, has the individual
to whom the information pertains consented to such collection, or is the
collection: |
_ |
_ |
| authorized by a statute, a
treaty, or an agreement thereunder? |
_ |
_ |
| authorized by the IPC? |
_ |
_ |
| from a report of a reporting
agency under the Consumer Reporting Act? |
_ |
_ |
or is it for one of the following
purposes:
- an honour or award
- Crown debt collection or payment
- law enforcement
- use in proceedings before a court, judicial or
quasi-judicial tribunal.
|
_
_
_
_ |
_
_
_
_ |
| Is personally identifiable
information indirectly collected from other programs? |
_ |
_ |
| Is information used for planning,
forecasting, or evaluation purposes anonymized? |
_ |
_ |
| Will customer activity be
monitored (e.g. for the purposes of providing security and quality assurances)? |
_ |
_ |
| If yes, will personal information
be used? |
_ |
_ |
| If yes, |
|
|
What is the authority for
using the personal information:
- consent
- consistent purposes rationale
- statutory authority
- other (describe)
|
_
_
_
_ |
_
_
_
_ |
| Is notice provided? |
_ |
_ |
| Is access to data restricted
to accountable security staff? |
_ |
_ |
| |
YES |
NO |
| Is the personal information
used for any other purposes or disclosed to any other business units (other
than law enforcement personnel)? |
_ |
_ |
| Does the monitoring conform
with the Management Board Directive on Information and Information Technology
Security? |
_ |
_ |
Anticipating Public
Expectations
Does the program require the collection
of personal information that clients are likely to consider highly sensitive?
If so, what steps have been taken to ensure public confidence?
Often, the first step in effectively
limiting collection is narrowly and precisely defining the statutory authority
for collection. Relying heavily on the discretion of public officials to limit
data collection, without appropriate statutory limitations, may prove difficult
in the face of competing pressures to maximize data collection. With this in
mind, is the statutory authority for collection as narrowly defined as possible?
Notes
Principle
5 -- Limiting Use, Disclosure, and Retention
Personal information shall not be used
or disclosed for purposes other than those for which it was collected, except
with the consent of the individual or as required by law. Personal information
shall be retained only as long as necessary for the fulfillment of those purposes.
5.1
Organizations using personal information
for a new purpose shall document this purpose.
In order to comply with s. 41 of
FIPPA, an institution must not use personal information in its custody or under
its control except
- where the individual has consented,
in writing, to the use of that particular information for a specified purpose;
- for the purpose for which it
was obtained or compiled or for a consistent purpose;
- for a purpose for which it
was disclosed under section 42 of the Act (where disclosure permitted). See
Principle 3 on this point.
5.2
Organizations should develop guidelines
and implement procedures with respect to the retention of personal information.
These guidelines should include minimum and maximum retention periods. Personal
information that has been used to make a decision about an individual shall be
retained long enough to allow the individual access to the information after the
decision has been made. An organization may be subject to legislative requirements
with respect to retention periods.
Regulations under FIPPA (O. Reg.
460 s. 5) prescribe a general one-year minimum retention period for personal
information following the last date of use of the information. Operational and
legal considerations may require a longer retention period. In developing records
retention guidelines, organizations should refer not only to FIPPA, but also
to the MBS Directive on the Management of Recorded Information
and the Archives Act.
5.3
Personal information that is no longer
required to fulfill the identified purposes should be destroyed, erased, or made
anonymous. Organizations should develop guidelines and implement procedures to
govern the destruction of personal information.
Institutions subject to FIPPA may
dispose of personal information only by (1) transferring it to the Archives
of Ontario or (2) by destroying it in such a manner that the information cannot
be reconstructed or retrieved. (O. Reg. 459 s. 2)
In addition, each institution must
maintain a disposal record setting out what personal information has been destroyed
or transferred to the Archives of Ontario and the date of that destruction or
transfer. This disposal record must not contain personal information. (O. Reg.
459, s. 6)
5.4
Personal information must not be disclosed
without proper authority. Under FIPPA, access to personal information within an
organization should ordinarily be allowed only on a need-to-know basis (s. 42
(d)). Generally, this should be based upon a two-part test:
- the employee must need access to
the information in order to perform their duties; and
- the access by the employee must
be in support of a legitimate business function of the organization (i.e.
they must not use their access privileges for personal reasons).
Under O. Reg. 460, s. 4 (2) the head
of an organization is responsible for ensuring that only those individuals who
need a record for the performance of their duties shall have access to it.
Disclosures outside the organization
must be in accordance with section 42 of the Act (s. a-c, e-n).
5.5
This principle is closely linked to
the Consent principle, the Identifying Purposes principle, and the Individual
Access principle.
Discussion
The principle of limiting use, disclosure
and retention is particularly relevant in the context of data matching, profiling,
and data warehousing. Such activities should be initiated only after the completion
of a business case which includes its own privacy impact assessment, identification
of the techniques which will be used to validate the result of the matching or
profiling activity, and the method of notifying the individuals prior to taking
action against them. The business case must be reviewed by the IPC in accordance
with the MBS Directive on Enhancing Privacy: Computer Matching of Personal Information.
Another area in which the Limitation
Principle may be relevant is with regard to public records. Public records are
usually created by government agencies for some purpose which benefits society.
For example, land title information is made public so that individuals can determine
who the registered owner and lien holders are on a given property. Other records
are public by custom, such as telephone directories.
New or additional uses of personal
information which are not consistent with the context or purpose for which the
record was initially made public may pose a major challenge. For example, the
public would not expect land title information, including land value and the
initial balance of the mortgage to be retrievable by the name of the owner.
There is a public benefit is retrieving the information by property description;
when the information is available by the name of the owner or mortgagor, the
disclosure may become intrusive and, in some cases, may pose a threat to security.
Adopting new technologies to improve
basic services creates opportunities for new uses, including revenue sources,
which must be carefully analyzed in the context of fair information practices
and privacy rights. Under FIPPA, the head of a public body is accountable for
approving all consistent uses of public records. The MBS Directive on Managing,
Distributing, and Pricing Government Information (Intellectual Property) provides
guidance in these circumstances.
Questions For Analysis
|
YES |
NO |
| Is personal Information used
exclusively for the stated purposes and for uses that the average client
would consider to be consistent with those purposes? |
_ |
_ |
| Are personal identifiers,
such as the social insurance number, used for the purposes of linking
across multiple databases? |
_ |
_ |
| Where data matching or profiling
occurs, is it consistent with the stated purposes for which the personal
information is collected? |
_ |
_ |
| Is there a record of use maintained
for any use or disclosure not consistent with original stated purposes? |
_ |
_ |
| Is the record of use attached
to the personal information record? |
_ |
_ |
| Is there any data matching
between programs, ministries, and private sector partners which fall outside
the purview of the Directive on Enhancing Privacy: Computer Matching of
Personal Information? |
_ |
_ |
| Where personal information
is disclosed to an authorized data mart or data warehouse, does the head
approve each new use, new user, and new matches? |
_ |
_ |
| · Are such disclosures
performed in consultation with the IPC and in compliance with Management
Board Directive on Enhancing Privacy: Computer Matching of Personal Information? |
_ |
_ |
| · Is the individual
to whom the information pertains informed of the disclosure? |
_ |
_ |
Anticipating Public
Expectations
Are the limitations on the use and disclosure
of personal information set out in law or policy reinforced by the information
and information technology architecture of the information systems?
Notes
Principle
6 -- Accuracy
Personal information shall be as
accurate, complete, and up-to-date as is necessary for the purposes for which
it is to be used.
6.1
The extent to which personal information
shall be accurate, complete, and up-to-date will depend upon the use of the information,
taking into account the interests of the individual. Information shall be sufficiently
accurate, complete, and up-to-date to minimize the possibility that inappropriate
information may be used to make a decision about the individual. (FIPPA s. 40
(2))
6.2
Section 40 (2) of FIPPA stipulates that
the head of an institution shall take reasonable steps to ensure that personal
information on the records of the institution is not used unless it is accurate
and up to date. Organizations should note, however, that FIPPA does not require
that personal information which is not being used be routinely updated.
By the same token, the CSA Standard
holds that an organization should not routinely update personal information,
unless such a process is necessary to fulfill the primary purposes for which
the information was collected. When discrepancies are noted, the subject should
be given the opportunity to correct or clarify discrepancies.
6.3
Personal information that is used on
an ongoing basis, including information that is disclosed to third parties, should
generally be accurate and up-to-date, unless limits to the requirement for accuracy
are clearly set out.
Questions For Analysis
|
YES |
NO |
| Does the record indicate the
last update date? |
_ |
_ |
| Is a record kept of the source
of the information used to make changes e.g. paper or transaction records? |
_ |
_ |
| Where applicable, is there
a procedure, automatically or at the request of the individual, to provide
notices of correction to third parties to whom personal information has
been disclosed? |
_ |
_ |
| Are records kept regarding
requests for a review for accuracy, corrections, or decisions not to correct? |
_ |
_ |
| Does the data subject have
access to these records? |
_ |
_ |
| When an individual challenges
the accuracy of a record, are they provided with information about the
ministry contact person responsible for the records? |
_ |
_ |
| If the individual and the
ministry program representative cannot reach agreement regarding the accuracy
of the record(s), is the individual advised of his or her right to file
a statement of disagreement? |
_ |
_ |
| Does the custodian of the
record note the statement of disagreement on the record(s) in such a manner
as to ensure that subsequent users who access the record(s) through any
service channel are aware that the accuracy of the record(s) is disputed? |
_ |
_ |
Principle
7 -- Safeguards
Personal information shall be protected
by security safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the information.
7.1
The security safeguards shall protect
personal information against loss or theft, as well as unauthorized access, disclosure,
copying, use or modification. Organizations shall protect personal information
regardless of the format in which it is held. (O. Reg. 460 s. 4, and MBS
Directive on Information and Information Technology Security.)
7.2
The nature of the safeguards will vary
depending on the sensitivity of the information that has been collected, the amount,
distribution, and format of the information, and the method of storage. More sensitive
information should be safeguarded by a higher level of protection.
7.3
The methods of protection should include:
- physical measures, for example,
locked filing cabinets and restricted access to offices;
- organizational measures, for
example, security clearances and limiting access on a A need-to-know basis;
and
- technological measures, for
example, the use of passwords, PKI, biometrics, and encryption.
7.4
Organizations shall make their employees
aware of the importance of maintaining the confidentiality of personal information.
O. Reg. 460, s. 4 (1) states that
every head shall ensure that reasonable measures to prevent unauthorized access
to the records in his or her institution are defined, documented and put in
place, taking into account the nature of the records to be protected.
7.5
Care shall be used in the disposal or
destruction of personal information, to present unauthorized parties from gaining
access to the information. (O. Reg. 459, s. 4 and 5 and the MBS Information
and Information Technology Security Directive)
Discussion
As information systems become larger
and more complex, security risks increase and potential rewards for unauthorized
access grow. These risks must be measured and evaluated in terms of the effect
on public confidence, lost business days, costs of rebuilding the data, and the
consequences to data subjects of corrupted data, public release, or covert use
by unauthorized parties.
There are a variety of technological
tools and system design techniques which may enhance both privacy and security.
These may include strong encryption, technologies of anonymity or pseudo-anonymity,
and digital signatures.
Questions For Analysis
|
YES |
NO |
| Has there been an expert review
of all the risks and the reasonableness or proportionality of countermeasures
taken to secure against unauthorized or improper access, collection, use,
disclosure, and disposal through all access channels? |
_ |
_ |
| Have security procedures for
the collection, transmission, storage, and disposal of personal information,
and access to it, been documented? |
_ |
_ |
| Have staff been trained in
requirements for protecting personal information and are they aware of
policies regarding breeches of security or confidentiality? |
_ |
_ |
| Are there controls in place
over the process to grant authorization to add, change or delete personal
information from records? |
_ |
_ |
| Is the system designed so
that access and changes to personal information can be audited by date
and user identification? |
_ |
_ |
| |
YES |
NO |
| Are user accounts, access
rights and security authorizations controlled and recorded by an accountable
systems or records management process? |
_ |
_ |
| Are access rights only provided
to users who actually require access for stated purposes of collection
or consistent purposes? |
_ |
_ |
| Is user access to personal
information limited to only that required to discharge the assigned functions? |
_ |
_ |
| Are the security measures
commensurate with the sensitivity of the information recorded? |
_ |
_ |
| Are there contingency plans
and mechanisms in place to identify security breaches or disclosures of
personal information in error? |
_ |
_ |
|
YES |
NO |
|
are there mechanisms in place to communicate
violations to stakeholders and to data subjects to mitigate collateral
risks? |
_ |
_ |
|
are there mechanisms in place to advise appropriate
ministry, corporate or other law enforcement authorities of security
breaches? |
_ |
_ |
| Are there adequate ongoing
resources budgeted for security upgrades, with specific measurable performance
indicators in systems maintenance plans? |
_ |
_ |
Anticipating Public
Expectations:
Have security risks been assessed from
the point of view not only of the organization, but also of the client in terms
of the potential impact of a security breach (e.g. is there potential for credit
card numbers to be compromised)?
Where a particular delivery channel
poses a high security risk, has an alternative been maintained?
Notes
Principle
8 -- Openness
An organization shall make readily
available to individuals specific information about its policies and practices
relating to the management of personal information.
8.1
Organizations shall be open about their
policies and practices with respect to the management of personal information.
Individuals should be able to acquire information about an organization's policies
and practices without unreasonable effort. This information shall be made available
in a form that is generally understandable. (FIPPA s. 31, 32, 45)
The Enterprise Information Architecture
Privacy Design Principles stipulate that an information system involving personal
information should be transparent, so that individuals can verify how their
information is being collected, used or disclosed. The types of transactions,
the linkages within the system and the way in which the personal information
is collected, used, disclosed and retained must be clearly visible to system
users and to data subjects. When requested, ministries and agencies should be
able to provide a full description of all circumstances where the organization
discloses an individual's personal information to third parties.
8.2
Organizations must make certain information
available under FIPPA (s. 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 45). For the Directory of Records,
for example, this information includes:
- the name/title and address of
the person who is accountable for the organization's polices and practices and
to whom complaints or inquiries can be forwarded;
- the means of gaining access
to personal information held by the organization;
- a description of the type of
personal information held by the organization, including a general account
of its use;
- a copy of any brochures or
other information that explain the organization's policies, standards, or
codes; and
- what personal information is
made available to related organizations (e.g. partners or subsidiaries).
8.3
An organization may make information
on its policies and practices available in a variety of ways. The method chosen
depends on the nature of its business and other considerations. For example, an
organization may choose to make brochures available in its place of business,
mail information to its customers, provide online access, or establish a toll-free
telephone number.
Questions For Analysis
|
YES |
NO |
| Do the Directory of Records
and information management policies list all personal information banks collected under the control of legislation in government
or 3rd party custody, including: |
_ |
_ |
| where information is transferred
to support indirect collection |
_ |
_ |
| (a) the operation of shared
or multi program data systems |
_ |
_ |
| (b) data marts or warehouses |
_ |
_ |
| (c) data transferred to a
third party for business processing, e.g. credit and debit settlements. |
_ |
_ |
Anticipating Public
Expectations
Given that the minimum requirements
for openness under FIPPA may not be adequate to meet public expectations or to
ensure public confidence in a new program or initiative, the following questions
might also be considered:
Have communications products and/or
a communications plan been developed to fully explain information processing
practices so as to reassure the public, in some detail, about how their personal
information will be protected?
Have opportunities for routine disclosure
and active dissemination been fully explored, as recommended by the IPC? Routine disclosure occurs when access
to a general record is granted on a routine basis as the result of a request.
Active dissemination refers to the release of information without any request.
For additional information, see Routine Disclosure/Active Dissemination:
A Joint Project of the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner/Ontario
and The Freedom of Information and Privacy Branch, Ministry of Government Services)
Notes
Principle
9 -- Individual Access
Upon request, an individual shall
be informed of the existence, use, and disclosure of his or her personal information
and shall be given access to that information. An individual shall be able to
challenge the accuracy and completeness of the information and have it amended
as appropriate.
Note: In certain situations, an organization
may not be able to provide access to all the personal information it holds about
an individual. Exceptions to the access requirement should be limited and specific.
The reasons for denying access should be provided to the individual upon request.
Exceptions may include information that contains references to other individuals,
information that cannot be disclosed for legal, security, or commercial proprietary
reasons, and information that is subject to solicitor-client or litigation privilege.
Section 49 of FIPPA / s. 38 of MFIPPA
set out the grounds for refusing to disclose personal information to the individual
to whom it pertains. The grounds are enumerated in subsections 49(a) through
(f) FIPPA/38(a) through (f) MFIPPA, and include those cases where disclosure:
- would constitute an unjustified
invasion of another individual's personal privacy;
- would reveal a confidential
source and the information relates to an evaluation or opinion compiled
to determine suitability for employment or for the awarding of government
contracts or other benefits;
- could reasonably be expected
to prejudice the individual's mental or physical health; or
- could reasonably be expected
to reveal information received in confidence.
9.1
Upon request, an organization shall
inform an individual whether or not the organization holds personal information
about the individual. Organizations are encouraged to indicate the source of this
information. The organization shall allow the individual access to this information.
In addition, the organization should provide an account of the use that has been
made or is being made of this information and an account of the third parties
to which it has been disclosed. (FIPPA s. 10, 31, 32, 35, 44-47)
9.2
An individual may be required to provide
sufficient information to permit an organization to provide an account of the
existence, use, and disclosure of personal information. The information provided
shall only be used for this purpose.
9.3
In providing an account of third parties
to which it has disclosed personal information about an individual, an organization
should attempt to be as specific as possible. When it is not possible to provide
a list of the organizations to which it has actually disclosed information about
an individual, the organization should provide a list of organizations to which
it may have disclosed information about the individual.
9.4
An organization shall respond to an
individual's request within the time limits provided under FIPPA and may charge
fees for access in accordance with the regulations (O. Reg. 460, s. 5.2, 5.3,
6, 6.1, 7, 8, 9). The requested information shall be provided or made available
in a form that is generally understandable. For example, if the organization uses
abbreviations or codes to record information, an explanation shall be provided.
9.5
When an individual successfully demonstrates
the inaccuracy or incompleteness of personal information, the organization shall
amend the information as required. Depending upon the nature of the information
challenged, amendment involves the correction, deletion, or addition of information.
Where appropriate, the amended information shall be transmitted to third parties
having access to the information in question. (FIPPA s. 47)
9.6
When a challenge is not resolved
to the satisfaction of the individual, the substance of the unresolved challenge
should be recorded by the organization. When appropriate, the existence for
the unresolved challenge should be transmitted to third parties having access
to the information in question. (FIPPA s. 47)
Discussion
Individuals sometimes disagree with
the organization's interpretation of the information in their file. Where the
organization is satisfied that the information is incorrect, it must correct
the information in accordance with this principle. In those instances where
the organization does not agree that the information is incorrect, the individual
should be able to file a statement of disagreement which is displayed to authorized
staff each time the contentious record is displayed.
Questions For Analysis
|
YES |
NO |
| Is the system designed to
ensure that access to all of the subject=s
data can be achieved with minimal disruption to operations? |
_ |
_ |
| Are the data subject=s
access rights assured for all the data sets of all the parties in the
information life cycle, including private sector partners and subcontractors,
3rd parties provided subject information through profiling/matching? |
_ |
_ |
| Are all custodians aware of
the right to access, formal or informal request procedures, mandatory
advising of formal appeal procedures to data subjects, fees, and limits
of their decision making authority? |
_ |
_ |
Anticipating Public
Expectations
In some cases, it will be both possible
and desirable to provide routine access to personal information. For example,
an individual may wish to verify the address a program has on file in order to
confirm that it is up to date. Having such a request go through the formal FOI
process adds unnecessary complexity and expense. Routine access should be provided
wherever possible.
Have opportunities for providing
routine access to personal information been fully explored? Is routine access
supported through appropriate policies and operational procedures?
Notes
Principle
10 -- Challenging Compliance
An individual shall be able to
address a challenge concerning compliance with the above principles to the designated
individual or individuals accountable for the organization's compliance.
(FIPPA, Part IV)
10.1
The individual accountable for an
organization's
compliance is discussed under principle one.
10.2
Organizations shall put procedures in
place to receive and respond to complaints or inquiries about their policies and
practices relating to the handling of personal information. The complaint process
should be easily accessible and simple to use.
10.3
Organizations shall inform individuals
who make inquiries or lodge complaints of the existence of relevant complaint
mechanisms, such as internal processes and remedies available through the
IPC's office. In addition, where government services are
delivered through third parties, organizations should ensure that these parties
notify individuals of the existence of such mechanisms where relevant. (See
the MBS Directive on Alternative Service Delivery Framework)
Discussion
Ministries are accountable under FIPPA
for complaints regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information
under their control and on their behalf, and for responding to access requests
within legislative time frames. In addition, individuals may complain to the IPC.
Ministries and partners should establish
procedures to informally resolve customer complaints regarding personal information
practices. Mechanisms should be put in place to ensure that partners co-operate
fully with the responsible ministry and provide all necessary information to
respond to a complaint or appeal.
Questions For Analysis
|
YES |
NO |
| Complaint procedures
are established including links to partnership agreements and staff role
assignments. |
_ |
_ |
| A procedure has been
established to log and periodically review complaints and their resolution
with a view to establishing improved information management practices
and standards. |
_ |
_ |
| Oversight and review
mechanisms comparable to those ensuring the accountability of public sector
bodies covered by FIPPA are being implemented. |
_ |
_ |
| Proportionate to
the level of activities outside the direct supervision of ministry personnel,
regular independent compliance audits of partner information practices
and privacy requirements have been established as contractual deliverables. |
_ |
_ |
Anticipating Public
Expectations
While the emphasis in Principle 10 is
on responding to specific complaints, organizations should also be aware of the
risk of more generalized policy critiques. The Annual Report of the IPC, for example, may call public attention to certain design
features that may undermine the protection of personal information. Such critiques
often focus on the broad privacy implications of a given program or proposal,
rather than simple technical compliance with FIPPA. Organizations must be sensitive
to these risks when assessing the privacy implications of their proposals.
Questions
which may help organizations to understand the sources of such risks would include:
Has a similar program been proposed
or implemented in other jurisdictions (nationally or internationally) and, if
so, how did watchdog agencies, the media, and the public react? What elements
of the program, if any, caused the greatest public concern, and what measures
have been put in place to pre-empt similar reactions in Ontario?
Have watchdog agencies, including
privacy commissioners in other provinces, issued reports or opinions on issues
that would be relevant to the proposal and, if so, have these been taken into
account?
Where appropriate, have key internal
or external stakeholders been provided with an opportunity to comment on the
implications of the proposal for the protection of personal information?
Notes
SUMMARIZING THE RESULTS
- STEP THREE
At this stage in the process, organizations
should have both a detailed account of the data flow within a program or proposed
program, and an analysis of compliance with FIPPA and broader privacy principles.
This should provide a solid basis for determining whether there are any outstanding
privacy issues which should be addressed before or as the proposal moves forward.
Organizations should have identified
and resolved technical compliance with the requirements of FIPPA through the
PIA process. Therefore, any outstanding privacy issues which will form part
of the summary document will relate to compliance with broader privacy principles
and possible triggers of negative public reaction. An understanding of the environment
in which the proposal is being made and of public expectations with regard to
privacy must, therefore, figure prominently in the determination of what the
outstanding issues are.
In summarizing their results, organizations
should keep in mind that one of the key goals of the privacy impact assessment
is to provide senior executives and the government with the tools necessary
to make fully- informed policy and system design and/or procurement decisions
based on an understanding of privacy risk and of the options available for mitigating
that risk. When preparing the summary of the results of the PIA, then, analysts
should seek to communicate clearly about risks or possible risks that have been
identified through the PIA process, particularly where those risks have not
been successfully addressed through system design or policy measures (i.e. residual
risks).
While the format of the summary will
be largely determined by the organization's needs, it should, at a minimum,
convey the following information:
- a description of the
proposal including programs and/or partners involved, objectives, timing and
key milestones, resource requirements, public benefits, and pointers to more
detailed information about the proposal;
- a list of relevant legislation
that may have a bearing on privacy requirements, including program statutes,
and relevant policies, including any applicable Management Board Directives;
- the specific privacy
risks relevant to the proposal;
- the options that exist
for addressing or mitigating those risks, along with the implications of each
option;
- an analysis of whether
other jurisdictions, either in Canada or internationally, have addressed similar
risks and whether their approaches were successful;
- any residual risks that
cannot be addressed through the proposed options and, where possible, an analysis
of the likely implications of these residual risks in terms of public reaction
and program success;
- a proposed privacy communications
strategy, if appropriate.
Privacy Risks Identification Template
| Privacy Risk |
Description |
Addressed By |
Not
Addressed |
|
|
|
|
|

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