‘With the rush to be online, is there

still a place for privacy?’

May 15, 2009

We’ve moved beyond experimentation

Forget about the 11 million Canadians on

Facebook –

the Pope has a YouTube channel!

Community building and technology go hand-in-hand in Canada

Our idea of community is changing - rapidly

Many communities are subtly shaped 1/3

By marketers

• Sick boy w/ the Cool T shirt

Many communities are subtly shaped 2/3

By activists

Many communities are subtly shaped 3/3

By politicians

How are communities defined today?

Not by shared history

Not by vague affinities

But by action

Canadians are learning how to:

establish an online identity

express themselves - forcefully

expect more – from everybody

What is the effect on government?

• tech-savvy activists aren’t waiting for us to act

• they are creating the tools and the resources

• they are making information free and flexible

The examples are international, pt. 1

In the United Kingdom, the government is experimenting with:

• Online consultations• Ministerial blogs• Twittering of Prime Ministerial visits

abroad

The examples are international, pt. 2

In the United States, the administration is forcing:

• Increased transparency• Open access to government data and

info• More responsive processes• Implementing all the tools at once

Canadians are learning to expect a response:

quickly

with authority

and with a solution

Which isn’t really our strength

What are WE doing in response?

• Monitoring

• Developing pilot projects

• Rolling out tools appropriate to the situation

Crisis Communications: a perfect example

Public Health Agency’s H1N1 outreach efforts

Public Safety’s Emergency Preparedness

Campaign

Public Education: digital tools prove flexible

youthprivacy.ca

dpi.priv.gc.ca

blog.privcom.gc.ca

What about privacy?

The process of creating and maintaining an

online identity is messy

Our understanding of privacy evolves

• over time

• cultural differences

• generational differences

What was that about messy?

• online tools are constantly evolving

• privacy protections vary from site to site, and from service to service

• Canadians are still learning what information to share, and what to safeguard

If Canadians were cautious, rational and unemotional, they would:• second guess every decision to share

personal information with their social networks

• constantly audit the information collected about them by online services, corporations and governments

Canadians face two significant privacy challenges

• Many sites continue to collect too much personal information

• They’re learning how build online relationships with friends, colleagues, businesses and governments

Their biggest obstacle?

• Every conversation online is treated just like a chat at the dinner table

• But there’s a permanent record of it

The repercussions are real

employment risks

social ostracism

civil and criminalconsequences

The particular risks of public sector participation

• Experience in the U.K. and the US has shown that public sector employees are reluctant to use social media.

• The U.K. and New Zealand governments have established very simple guidelines that encourage innovation but emphasize responsibility.

Conclusion

• Provide users with the tools to control their own personal information

• Establish an environment that encourages the use of these new tools – by citizens and by employees

• Set clear guidelines about how and when you will use these tools to communicate with Canadians.

Bridging the Gaps

• Aim for better mutual understanding and accommodation

• Provide clear, user-friendly information about privacy policies

• Give users tools to set and enforce privacy controls

Colin McKay

cmckay@privcom.gc.ca