NDP calls for study of Big Data’s personal privacy protection

OTTAWA – It’s time Parliamentarians took appropriate steps to ensure the protection of Canadians’ personal information on big Internet sites, such as Google and Facebook, says New Democrat Digital Affairs Critic Charmaine Borg (Terrebonne-Blainville).

“Times are changing and Parliament needs to keep up. In the digital age, major websites, such as Google and Facebook, have become warehouses of massive amounts of personal data,” said Borg (Terrebonne-Blainville). “While these sites provide enormous utility to millions of Canadians from all walks of life, users must have confidence that their personal information is being protected.”

On Tuesday, Borg will bring a motion up for debate at the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics, calling for a study to assess the measures taken by Google, Facebook and other social media to protect the personal information of millions of their Canadian users.

“It is up to Parliamentarians to be savvy and responsive to the changing realities of privacy protection online. This is the new frontier in managing Big Data and keeping Canadians' privacy safe from the appetites of market research interests. Parliamentarians must act now.” said Borg.

If approved, the study will hold hearings with prominent experts in the field over the next months.