"new methods of spying on their employees" | The Cat Herder, Volume 3, Issue 38

David Heinemeier Hansson, a co-founder of the collaboration startup Basecamp, which provides a software platform for companies to coordinate their remote workers, says he regularly has to turn down requests from potential clients for new methods of spying on their employees.

Another company called Sneek offers technology that takes photos of workers through their laptop and uploads them for colleagues to see.

“This document reveals a shocking misuse of personal health information by police,” said CCF Litigation Director, Christine Van Geyn. “Police were caught using the COVID-19 database to look up names unrelated to active calls, to do wholesale postal code searches for COVID-19 cases, and to even do broad based searches outside officers’ own cities. There is no rationale for this abuse. We have filed a complaint with the Ontario Privacy Commissioner for violations of the Personal Health Information Protection Act, and with the Ontario Independent Police Review Director for officer misconduct.”

Micheál Martin: “In my view, privacy rights should not apply to people who are dumping illegally and if legislation is required to correct this, then it will be brought about urgently. I spoke to the Minister this morning. I understand the need for privacy and for property rights to be protected. On the other hand, we can overdo this. I think CCTV should be used to catch illegal dumpers and to prosecute them, and there should be no issue around that.”

[The] decision was issued by the Commissioner in March 2020 and concerned Kerry County Council. It found that certain CCTV systems operated by Kerry County Council were unlawful in the absence of authorisation from the Garda Commissioner under Section 38 of An Garda Síochána Act 2005. Significantly in this regard, the Litter Pollution Act 1997, the Waste Management Act 1996 (as amended), and the Local Government Act 2001 were comprehensively considered and the decision found that those Acts do not provide a lawful basis for the use of CCTV for law enforcement purposes. [page 38]

Questioned during a weekend visit to the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Drogheda, the Taoiseach said: “There will need to be some changes around the retention of data, transparency and strengthening the legal basis of the Public Services Card.”

One of the issues the Government will soon address is the deletion of retained data on cardholders, he added.

The message came out of the blue for Taylor Fornell. A stranger told her he had complete control over the home security system in her new house in Stony Plain, Alta., and could prove it.

As she stood alone in her front hall, she watched in disbelief as the man unarmed the system, unlocked doors and windows and told her he could track when she left the house — all with a few clicks on the security company’s app.