Office of the Saskatchewan Information and Privacy Commissioner. Guide to FOIP, Chapter 6, Protection of Privacy. Updated 27 February 2023. 6 from surveillance and from intrusions.13 It is about the individual being able to control access to, as well as collection, use and disclosure of, their personal information.14 Privacy may be defined as an individual’s right to determine for themselves, when, how and to what extent they will release personal information about themselves. Privacy thus connotes concepts of intimacy, identity, dignity, and integrity of the individual.15 The Threat of Identity Theft Identity theft refers to the collection or acquisition of someone else’s personal information to conduct criminal activities.16 Identity fraud is the actual use of another person’s information in connection with fraud. This includes impersonation and the misuse of debit or credit card information.17 Identity theft is one of the most serious crimes in Canada and one that has significantly increased in frequency and sophistication. Identity thieves will steal wallets, redirect mail, rummage through garbage, set up telemarketing schemes, break into computers to take money out of bank accounts, go on shopping sprees, apply for loans, credit cards and social benefits, rent apartments and even commit more serious crimes – all in the victim’s name.18 13 R. v. Edwards (1996), 103 C.C.C. (3d) 136 (S.C.C.) at paras. 49-50. 14 Privacy and Confidentiality of Health Information at CIHI: Principles and Policies for the Protection of Personal Health Information and Policies for Institution-Identifiable Information, 3rd Edition, Ottawa: Canadian Institute for Health Information, April 2002, a p. 52. Referenced in SK OIPC Investigation Report H-2005-002 at p. 23. 15 Canada (Information Commissioner) v. Canada (Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board), 2006 FCA 157 (CanLII), [2007] 1 FCR 203 at summary on p. 2. 16 Office of the Ontario Information and Privacy Commissioner (ON IPC) resource, Ensuring your privacy is protected. Available at https://www.ipc.on.ca/privacy-individuals/ensuring-your-privacy-isprotected/. Accessed on October 18, 2022. 17 ON IPC resource, Ensuring your privacy is protected. Available at https://www.ipc.on.ca/privacyindividuals/ensuring-your-privacy-is-protected/. Accessed on October 18, 2022. 18 Originated from former Saskatchewan Justice Minister, Frank Quennell’s news release, “Saskatchewan Supports Identity Theft Initiatives”, March 12, 2004. Cited in SK OIPC Investigation Report H-2007-001 at [41].
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