Info Matters Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario

Most of us take our government issued ID for granted. If we lose it, it’s a minor inconvenience. But for people experiencing homelessness, not having valid ID or a fixed address to obtain these documents is a much more serious challenge. Robert Fabes of The Ottawa Mission shares insights on the barriers people experiencing homelessness face and how to provide access to essential services while respecting their privacy and dignity.

From unlocking smartphones to solving crimes, facial recognition technologies are re-shaping identification as we know it. In this episode, we peer into the privacy and human rights implications of facial recognition systems with technology and human rights lawyer Cynthia Khoo.

Info Matters kicks off its fourth season with a unique twist, handing the microphone over to Grade 7 and 8 students from Westboro Academy in Ottawa. They share insights on what privacy means to them, how they navigate digital spaces, and what parents, educators, and regulators can do to support their digital literacy. And their school principal joins the conversation too!

Tune in for riveting conversations about people, privacy, and access to information as Info Matters revisits its most thought-provoking moments from season three. This recap includes a variety of guests talking about cybersecurity, misinformation, genetic data, artificial intelligence, neurotechnology, women’s access rights and more … have a listen!

Networked spaces provide countless opportunities for young people to connect and share ideas and information like never before. But for young women and girls, the online world can be an unfriendly place, fueling self consciousness, self doubt, and fear. University of Ottawa professors Jane Bailey and Valerie Steeves speak about the eQuality project. Its mission is to help young people create a networked environment where they can participate equally, free from surveillance, and identity-based harassment.

“What’s on your mind?” It’s a common question that, with the help of new technologies, may soon yield more personal information than we’d like. Neurotechnology devices can interact directly with the brain to extract information about our thoughts and behaviours and help stimulate certain physical and mental responses. While neurotechnology offers certain health and safety benefits, it also raises significant legal and ethical concerns. In this episode, Jennifer Chandler, a professor at the University of Ottawa’s Centre for Health Law, Policy and Ethics, discusses neurotechnology and emerging cognitive rights such as mental privacy, personal identity, and freedom of thought.