Kind of a funny news announcement from the Office of the Privacy Commissioner this week. Stop the presses! They’ve updated their guidance on the use of fax machines. Made me giggle, but in a sad way. It still shocks me that some people transmit personal information — including health and financial data — using this outdated technology and that the OPC actually had to update and issue this guidance. To be fair, it essentially started with something like "it’s kind of dumb to fax, don’t do it, but if you do, here’s how to do it in a more privacy friendly way." At least that’s my interpretation.
If we can ban the use of TikTok, can’t we ban the use of the fax machine?
I think old and new technologies will continue to dominate the news cycles this year. Hopefully our federal politicians are listening, and they decide to move forward with the meaningful debate and study of Bill C-27.
The disappointingly partisan debate about the bill in the House of Commons this week has me worried the people looking at modernizing our privacy law aren’t too pressed to get it done. At one point, a Liberal member said they will be lucky to move forward by the end of this calendar year, which makes you wonder if there’s even time for a committee to look at it during this session. Ooof. Let’s not work too hard up there on Parliament Hill. It makes you wonder if they’re using fax machines over there.