Top 10 Ways Your Privacy is Threatened The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada has developed the following "Top 10 List", which outlines some of the key threats to our privacy that people should be aware of. We think your readership might find these both interesting and informative, and we encourage you to use them in your publication as you see fit-hopefully in conjunction with Data Privacy Day, thought they are equally useful throughout the year.
Please feel free to contact our Office or the office of the privacy commissioner or ombudsperson for your province if you would like more information about privacy issues. You will find all the necessary contact information at the end of this email.
10. Surveillance cameras, swipe cards, internet searches-as you go about your daily routine you actually leave a trail of data behind you for others to collect, merge, analyze and even sell, often without your knowledge or consent.
9. New and exciting technologies are emerging daily; but often your personal information is the cost of admission. Think about the information you have surrendered just to play online games, join virtual worlds, or even shop online.
8. Millions of people post all sorts of personal information about themselves, their family and their friends on social networking sites without reviewing the privacy policies, modifying the privacy settings, or considering how this information can be used or misused by others.
7. Governments are indiscriminately collecting mountains of personal data in the name of national security and public safety.
6. Businesses are collecting more and more information about an ever-greater number of people, often without having appropriate means to protect the information or dispose of it.
5. Data breaches happen every day in both the public and private sectors. Recent incidents have exposed the personal information of millions of people. In fact, you could already have been one of those people, but due to the lack of mandatory breach reporting laws in Canada, you may never even be informed.
4. Fraudsters have become extremely devious and technologically savvy. From the other side of the planet, they can steal your personal information. These days, you need to shred documents, protect your computer, watch out for fraudulent e-mails, be on guard against pretexting and much more.
3. Identity theft, which is fuelled by excessive personal information collection and failure to protect it, is rampant-and it is becoming a very lucrative business for criminals.
2. We live in a global society where information flows freely around the world-from person to person; jurisdiction to jurisdiction; public sector to private sector-and all privacy protection laws are not created equal.
1. The notion that "if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear". Privacy is an essential freedom that shapes our society; an internationally recognized human right; and the foundation of modern democracy-but if we don't value our privacy or stand up for it as our right, it will be eroded over time.
Or contact your provincial commissioner or ombudsman responsible for privacy issues:
Yukon: http://www.ombudsman.yk.ca/
OPERATION SUPPORT UNIT
Resource to police forces and community groups for
projects such as: Neighbourhood Watch
Home Security Surveys Senior Citizen Safety
Sexual Assault Prevention
Ministry of Solicitor General - Police Services Branch
2nd Flr, 815 Hornby St., Van V6Z 2E6 ..... 1-604-660-2604
Kelowna - Cpl. Reg Burgess ............................ 470-6231
Crime Prevention Coordinator - City of Kelowna
Alex Johnston ................................................... 470-6219
Crime Prevention Coordinator - Reg Dist Cent OK
Mike Cain ......................................................... 470-6218
CRIME STOPPERS
KELOWNA ........................................... 1-800-222-8477
Main office number for Central Okanagan ... 470-6215
Serves Central Okanagan from Lake Country to
Peachland www.crimestoppers.net
Student Crime Stoppers Line ........................ 860-8336
www.student-crimestoppers.com
CITIZENS PATROL SOCIETY
Lake Country Patrol 3231 Berry, Winfield ..... 766-5400
COMMUNITY POLICE OFFICES
(See Community Resources)
RUTLAND CITIZENS PATROL .................. 765-6355
SPECIALIZED VICTIM SERVICES
Provide service for people who have been victimized as a result of spousal assault/child sexual abuse. Include court orientation and preparation for victims as witnesses. Provides assistance with official forms. Emotional support and referral to appropriate community services.
104-347 Leon Avenue, Kelowna V1Y 8C7 ... 763-4613
WOMENS SEXUAL ASSAULT SERVICES
Free counselling for women who have been sexually abused or assaulted at any time in their life.
Central Okanagan Elizabeth Fry Society
104-347 Leon Avenue, Kelowna V1Y 8C7 .... 763-4613
VICTIM WITNESS SERVICES
Regional District of Central Okanagan/RCMP
Police based program which provides information and support services to victims of all types of crime or trauma in the Central Okanagan area.
Services include: emotional support, practical information referrals to community agencies, professionals
assistance with official forms court accompaniment/ court orientation assistance with RCMP Senior Contact Program Coordinator: Cary Berger
Assistant Coordinator: Bob Bryce
350 Doyle Avenue, Kelowna V1Y 6V7 .......... 470-6242
VICTIMS INFORMATION LINE
Service provided by Information Services Vancouver on behalf of BC Ministry of Attorney General. Information, advice and assistance to victims of crime. Referrals to victim services in local community if available or offers other advice and printed material.
Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 7:00pm
MINISTRY OF ATTORNEY GENERAL
202-3102 Main St., Vancouver V5T 3G7 .... 1-800-563-0808
To find out if your group, club or organization
qualifies for a listing in this resource please contact us
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