Federal (Canada) Privacy Decisions

This systemic investigation examined the use and preservation of instant messages, such as BlackBerry PIN messages, on government devices. The investigation was prompted by complaints of missing records, including a case where devices were destroyed before an access request could be fulfilled. The OIC found that the use of instant messaging posed a risk to the right of access to information.

• Use and preservation of instant messaging on government devices
• Impact of instant messaging on the right of access to information
• Destruction of devices containing potential records
• Timeliness of access to information