Did you know this is Right to Know week? Yep, and about 10 years ago, the United Nations declared 28 Sept. as the International Day for Universal Access to Information.
Not that I want to steal the thunder of another important issue, but there is a pretty strong link to privacy, and I've often thought we as privacy professionals could use the occasion to highlight it.
First, individuals have a right to know — and access — the personal information organizations hold about them. Second, organizations should respect people's right to know how they handle personal information. Third, many of our privacy colleagues wear both hats: privacy and freedom of information. And fourth, well, sometimes striking the balance between openness and privacy is a bit of an art form.
On that note, I've been experiencing a lot of art lately, and it's invigorating. It's helping me think more creatively and work through problems in innovative ways. If you follow me on LinkedIn, you may have seen my recent post about a new online art gallery that's close to my heart. Well, today, I want to let you know about another very cool online art gallery that was unveiled this week as part of the Right to Know festivities.
The Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario launched a second Transparency Showcase. It's a 3D online gallery of some very cool original digital art pieces inspired by the transparency projects of a handful of Ontario institutions, including some privacy transparency projects. Some of the pieces are quite stunning. All too often we're told what not to do by regulators, so it's kind of refreshing to see some examples of what they want to see.
You know, it's actually not the first time our community has used art to tell the story. In a 2016 TedX talk that is still relevant today, IAPP President and CEO J. Trevor Hughes, CIPP, used art to illustrate the history of privacy.
Anyway, consider all these images a little bit of creative inspiration to cap off your week.
Kris Klein, CIPP/C, CIPM, FIP, is the managing director for Canada for the IAPP.