Canadian Privacy Act

Nos. writes "Yesterday, I happened upon an Act that came into effect in Canada on January 1, 2004. The Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act protects almost every bit of personal information not publicly available. For example, your name, race, date of birth, income, etc. are protected where your address and telephone number are not (these are generally available in the telephone book). Some of the more interesting parts of the faq include such wonderful things as: '[businesses must] supply you with a product or a service even if you refuse consent for the collection, use or disclosure of your personal information unless the information is essential to the transaction'. Definitely a step in the right direction."

Comments

Death of...

[incom]

Canadian private investigators? Not that I'd miss those buggers.

Re:Not retroactive?

[kaltkalt]

The problem with privacy rights in america is that the freedom to have an abortion is based on privacy rights. So, all those zealots who want to ban abortion because when they read between the lines of their Godbook they think it says abortions are bad (thus must be banned for everyone) are automatically put in a position where they have to, and will, argue that there are no privacy rights in America. Indeed, they will point out, the word "privacy" doesn't exist in the Constitution (neither do a lot of words, such as abortion).

So, because of abortion, the right to privacy--something every human being should cherish--is under constant attack. If there is no right to privacy then abortions can be banned, baby jesus will be happy, and so will the government and big business because they can do whatever the hell they want with you and your personal information. Video cameras in your home... no right to privacy, sounds fine. We've already started with mandatory gov't-ordered video surveilance in Internet Cafes in California.

So, at the end of the day, like most things, the problem can be blamed directly on religious people. In this case, American Christians.

Re:Oz?

[Zork the Almighty]

Shit he sounds a lot like John Ashcroft.

perhaps

[crabpeople]

canada isnt socialist*. It values people and treats them equally. It tries to give things like healthcare to everyone equally. Canada doesn't suck up to coperations as much as they do down south.

Im not surprised at all this has been put into law. Privacy is a right that all citizens have equally.

*Socialism, often confused with communism (i think you meant it negatively), is not a bad thing. Its the middle ground between capitalism and communism.

socialism

The stage in Marxist-Leninist theory intermediate between capitalism and communism, in which collective ownership of the economy under the dictatorship of the proletariat has not yet been successfully achieved.

doesnt sound that bad now does it.

Re:Toothless?

[pavon]

Wow they really call canadian government id numbers SIN! That is awesome. Talk about mark of the beast :) I can't believe I haven't heard religous wacko's go off on that yet.

Re:Canada - Land of Restricted Speech

[mystrale]

The Charter mandates equal rights for women. The US Constitution still doesn't, after a generation of wrangling. Pry that beam out of your own eye before pointing out the mote in ours.

That is the Beauty

[RU_on_weed]

Now they can't bust you for mp3s. ISP cannot give out your name and info