Special Welcome by A. Alan Borovoy
General Counsel, Emeritus, Canadian Civil Liberties Association
Keynote: Beware of "Surveillance by Design:" Standing Up for Freedom and Privacy
Ann Cavoukian, Ph.D.
Information & Privacy Commissioner, Ontario, Canada
In this day and age of 24/7 online expanded connectivity and immediate access to digitized information, new analytic tools and algorithms now make it possible, not only to link a number with an identifiable individual, but also to combine diverse information from multiple sources, ultimately creating a detailed, personal profile. We have now reached a point where information that previously was not identifiable, has become identifiable through an ever-expanding web of “data linkages,” serving as pointers to personally-identifiable information.
The expected re-introduction of federal “lawful access” bills in Parliament, that if passed in their original form, would provide police with much greater ability to access and track information about identifiable individuals via the communications technologies that we use every day, such as the Internet, smart phones, and other mobile devices, and at times, without a warrant or any judicial authorization. This represents a looming system of “Surveillance by Design,” that should concern us all in a free and democratic society.
Fortunately, Commissioner Cavoukian has a solution. By proactively embedding the principles of Privacy by Design (PbD) into the development of new technologies, privacy will continue to be strongly protected. Commissioner Cavoukian will discuss how PbD can accommodate all legitimate interests and objectives in a “positive sum,” win-win manner, while laying to rest the dated “zero-sum” mindset that we must sacrifice privacy for security. We do not.
The Impact of Surveillance on …
Dissent, Freedom, and Social Change
Professor John Villasenor
The Brookings Institution and University of California, Los Angeles
Technology is expanding (and its costs declining) so rapidly that all too soon, governments will be capable of recording almost everything said and done within their reach – and storing the information indefinitely. We are at the dawn of an era of pervasive surveillance. This will fundamentally change the dynamics of dissent, freedom, and social change. Hear John Villasenor’s predictions about where the technology is headed, and the resulting challenges in addressing the very legitimate concerns of both the privacy and security communities in this new era.
The Impact of Surveillance on …
The International Stage: Will Canada “Lower The Bar” Globally?
Dr. Ron Deibert
Professor, Political Science, University of Toronto
All eyes are turned towards Canada’s “lawful access” legislation: What standard will we set for democracy and freedom in cyberspace? Will we be lowering the bar and establishing a precedent – a “new normal” to which repressive regimes will point to justify their own actions? Dr. Ron Deibert argues that even as Russia, China, and others lobby for a more territorialized, controlled version of cyberspace, Canada, through its “lawful access” provisions is indirectly supporting those efforts.
The Impact of Surveillance on …
The Average Canadian
John Ibbitson
Ottawa Bureau Chief, Globe and Mail
We are all citizen journalists, witnessing, recording, and instantly sharing events. True to journalistic form, John Ibbitson gets right to the point. The case is yet to be made for how this legislation will improve the lives of Canadians. We have been told this will improve policing, but how will this improve the life of the average Canadian? It’s time to ask the tough questions and examine the dangers of making surveillance the default.
The Impact of Surveillance on …
Diversity, Social Creativity, and Policing
Nathalie Des Rosiers
General Counsel, Canadian Civil Liberties Association
The police should ask for permission beforehand -- not for forgiveness after the fact. But if the proposed “lawful access” bills are passed, police will no longer need to ask for a warrant, in some cases, to gain access to personal information. Nathalie Des Rosiers argues that warrants keep police accountable and that empowering police, without the corresponding obligation to justify the action, is dangerous. Without appropriate boundaries, society will become more homogeneous; creativity and innovation will be threatened.
The Impact of Surveillance on …
Businesses in the Information Age
David Fraser
Lead, McInnes Cooper Privacy Practice Group
In this increasingly social age, businesses are realizing that privacy and consumer trust are critical for a dynamic and growing business sector. Companies need to design their systems, from the ground up, with privacy and consumer choice embedded at every level. “Lawful access” forces internet and telecommunications providers to compromise their systems, from the ground up, with surveillance back-doors. Removing judicial oversight conscripts businesses as agents of law enforcement, destroying consumer trust and reducing privacy across the board. David Fraser examines Surveillance by Design: the “What’s next?” Scenario.
