‘With the rush to be online, is there
still a place for privacy?’
May 15, 2009
We’ve moved beyond experimentation
Forget about the 11 million Canadians on
Facebook –
the Pope has a YouTube channel!
Community building and technology go hand-in-hand in Canada
Our idea of community is changing - rapidly
Many communities are subtly shaped 1/3
By marketers
• Sick boy w/ the Cool T shirt
Many communities are subtly shaped 2/3
By activists
Many communities are subtly shaped 3/3
By politicians
How are communities defined today?
Not by shared history
Not by vague affinities
But by action
Canadians are learning how to:
establish an online identity
express themselves - forcefully
expect more – from everybody
What is the effect on government?
• tech-savvy activists aren’t waiting for us to act
• they are creating the tools and the resources
• they are making information free and flexible
The examples are international, pt. 1
In the United Kingdom, the government is experimenting with:
• Online consultations• Ministerial blogs• Twittering of Prime Ministerial visits
abroad
The examples are international, pt. 2
In the United States, the administration is forcing:
• Increased transparency• Open access to government data and
info• More responsive processes• Implementing all the tools at once
Canadians are learning to expect a response:
quickly
with authority
and with a solution
Which isn’t really our strength
What are WE doing in response?
• Monitoring
• Developing pilot projects
• Rolling out tools appropriate to the situation
Crisis Communications: a perfect example
Public Health Agency’s H1N1 outreach efforts
Public Safety’s Emergency Preparedness
Campaign
Public Education: digital tools prove flexible
youthprivacy.ca
dpi.priv.gc.ca
blog.privcom.gc.ca
What about privacy?
The process of creating and maintaining an
online identity is messy
Our understanding of privacy evolves
• over time
• cultural differences
• generational differences
What was that about messy?
• online tools are constantly evolving
• privacy protections vary from site to site, and from service to service
• Canadians are still learning what information to share, and what to safeguard
If Canadians were cautious, rational and unemotional, they would:• second guess every decision to share
personal information with their social networks
• constantly audit the information collected about them by online services, corporations and governments
Canadians face two significant privacy challenges
• Many sites continue to collect too much personal information
• They’re learning how build online relationships with friends, colleagues, businesses and governments
Their biggest obstacle?
• Every conversation online is treated just like a chat at the dinner table
• But there’s a permanent record of it
The repercussions are real
employment risks
social ostracism
civil and criminalconsequences
The particular risks of public sector participation
• Experience in the U.K. and the US has shown that public sector employees are reluctant to use social media.
• The U.K. and New Zealand governments have established very simple guidelines that encourage innovation but emphasize responsibility.
Conclusion
• Provide users with the tools to control their own personal information
• Establish an environment that encourages the use of these new tools – by citizens and by employees
• Set clear guidelines about how and when you will use these tools to communicate with Canadians.
Bridging the Gaps
• Aim for better mutual understanding and accommodation
• Provide clear, user-friendly information about privacy policies
• Give users tools to set and enforce privacy controls
Colin McKay