Jan 28, 2014

Manitoba Ombudsman joins many government offices, corporations, and privacy professionals around the world in marking Data Privacy Day on January 28 by reminding everyone to give the protection of privacy and data a greater priority. Data Privacy Day highlights the impact that technology is having on our privacy rights and underlines the importance of valuing and protecting our personal information.

"Our personal information is valuable. By taking some simple precautions we can minimize the likelihood that we'll leave ourselves open to a privacy breach," said Acting Ombudsman Mel Holley. "Key personal information such as your name, address, date of birth, Social Insurance Number, driver’s license number, credit card number, or banking information can be used to steal your identity, withdraw money from your accounts or open new ones, make purchases, apply for credit cards or loans, redirect mail, and more."

To mark Data Privacy Day 2014, Manitoba Ombudsman has produced a short video that highlights five tips for protecting personal information:

 Who: Ensure you know who you are communicating with before you provide your personal information on the phone, though the mail or the internet.

What: Carry only the identification and payment cards in your wallet that you need on a regular basis. Don’t keep your birth certificate or Social Insurance Number card in your wallet.

When: Destroy all papers containing your personal information, including financial information, when it is no longer needed. Don't toss the papers in the recycling bin. Use a cross-cut shredder to securely destroy the information.

Where: If you share photos or videos online that were taken with phones or cameras equipped with global positioning system (GPS) technology, remove any geotagging metadata first, as these can reveal the exact location where the images were taken.

Why: When asked to provide your personal information (for example, to make a purchase or sign up for a service), find out why the information is needed, how it will be used and if it will be shared, before revealing it.

The video is available on Manitoba Ombudsman's YouTube channel.

To help protect the personal information contained on credit and debit cards (with radio frequency identification chips) from electronic pick-pockets, Manitoba Ombudsman has once again made "ID shields" available. ID shields are made of metallized, tear-resistant and water-resistant paper. Using the card sleeve is an easy way to block unauthorized access to the information contained on your card’s RFID chip.

To help Manitobans understand their privacy rights, Manitoba Ombudsman also has the following resources available:

• User's Guide to FIPPA: Access to Information and Protection of Privacy
• Health Information Access and Privacy: A Guide to the Personal Health Information Act (developed with Manitoba Health)
• Know Your Health Information Rights: eChart Manitoba
• Links to identity theft resources on our identity theft page

To assist Manitoba public bodies/trustees who collect personal information understand their obligations under The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and The Personal Health Information Act, we have FIPPA and PHIA practice notes.

For more information on Data Privacy Day, please visit the official website.