Concern raised over online disclosure - The Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation Band
A complainant expressed concern that the online publication of her full name and date of birth in the Canada Gazette, as required by the agreement establishing the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation Band, put her at risk of identity theft. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) investigated and found that the disclosure was consistent with the Privacy Act, as the information was published for the purpose for which it was originally collected: the identification and recognition of Band members. Therefore, the complaint was not well-founded.
- Disclosure of personal information without consent
- Purpose of collection and disclosure
- Risk of identity theft
Complaint not well-founded
The disclosure of the complainant's personal information was found to be consistent with the Privacy Act, as it was for the purpose for which the information was originally collected and served to identify and recognize Band members.
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The OPC recommended that Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada explore alternative disclosure options in the future, such as providing only a partial date of birth or linking to an offline registry.
- Privacy Act
This summary is informational only and not legal advice.