Episodes

3 hours ago
3 hours ago
In this week's commentary, foreign chaos is disrupting cybersecurity, privacy, and access to information. In this discussion, Jim Love from TechNewsday.ca, Professor Emeritus Colin Bennett from the University of Victoria, FIPA President Mike Larsen, and FIPA Executive Director Jason Woywada joined me to examine how global instability is challenging long-held assumptions about data security.
Foreign impacts on data sovereignty:
- Judge weighs short-term block on Musk allies’ ability to share Treasury records outside the department: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/05/elon-musk-lawsuit-treasury-records-00202736
- CDC Data Are Disappearing: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2025/01/cdc-dei-scientific-data/681531/
- DOGE will allow Elon Musk to Surveil the US Government from the inside: https://www.wired.com/story/doge-elon-musk/
- Musk team given access to sensitive federal payment system – reports: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c77rkg5dm3vo
- Elon Musk Can Now Access Your Personal Information: What You Need to Know: https://www.newsweek.com/elon-musk-doge-treasury-personal-info-2025230
Jim Love @ TechNewsday.ca
- Podcast home of Cybersecurity Today and Hashtag Trending: https://www.technewsday.com/podcast/
Support these efforts by subscribing or donating.
Send comments to FIPAOnline@fipa.bc.ca
Access and Privacy Commentary: https://fipa.bc.ca/research-resources/podcasts/access-and-privacy-commentary/
Access and Privacy Online: https://fipa.bc.ca/research-resources/podcasts/access-and-privacy-online/
News stories through the Canadian Press and Feedly.
Available through: PodBean, Apple iTunes, YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM. ListenNotes, Podchaser, Boomplay

5 days ago
News Summary February 8th , 2025
5 days ago
5 days ago
Coming up in your Access and Privacy News Summary for Saturday, February 8th.
We continue to track the nationwide fallout from the PowerSchool data breaches in Canada. We'll also take a look at a recent phishing attack targeting a BC school district, highlighting ongoing risks to educational institutions.
There’s a new report from the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner on municipal record-keeping—a topic with significant implications for transparency and accountability.
Internationally, we’ve got a packed show. Book bans in Canada and the U.S. are making headlines, with legal challenges brewing on both sides of the border. There’s also a major update on Italy blocking access to DeepSeek, a Chinese AI platform, over privacy concerns. And in the U.S., Trump-era decisions affecting government transparency and privacy rights are once again under scrutiny.
We’ll close the show with excerpts from two FIPA Commentaries—one on Foreign Interference in Canadian Democracy and another on how global instability is reshaping cybersecurity, privacy, and information access.
Show Notes: https://fipa.bc.ca/20250208-access-and-privacy-online/
Individual Stories: https://fipa.bc.ca/tag/2025-season-episode-06/
Support these efforts by subscribing or donating.
Send comments to FIPAOnline@fipa.bc.ca
Our Contributors:
Writing: Shaun Fisk | Production: Patrick Farnsworth | Music: Breakmaster Cylinder
Access and Privacy Online: https://fipa.bc.ca/research-resources/podcasts/access-and-privacy-online/
News stories through the Canadian Press and Feedly.
Available through: PodBean, Apple iTunes, YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM. ListenNotes, Podchaser, Boomplay

7 days ago
7 days ago
In this week's commentary, a deeper dive into the recommendations in the Final Report from The Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions with FIPA President Mike Larsen.
Commission Releases Final Report on Foreign Interference
Executive Summary of the Final Report (Volume 1)
Recommendations to Better Protect against Foreign interference in Canada’s Democratic Institutions and Processes (Volume 5)
FIPA Submission to 2024 Foreign Interference Commission
Support these efforts by subscribing or donating
Send comments to FIPAOnline@fipa.bc.ca
Access and Privacy Commentary: https://fipa.bc.ca/research-resources/podcasts/access-and-privacy-commentary/
Access and Privacy Online: https://fipa.bc.ca/research-resources/podcasts/access-and-privacy-online/
News stories through the Canadian Press and Feedly.
Available through: PodBean, Apple iTunes, YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM. ListenNotes, Podchaser, Boomplay

Saturday Feb 01, 2025
News Summary February 1st, 2025
Saturday Feb 01, 2025
Saturday Feb 01, 2025
Coming up in your Access and Privacy News Summary for Saturday, February 1st.
In this week's show, we’ll start with the continued fallout from a U.S. cybersecurity data breach affecting schools across Canada.
Then, we’ll explore major stories in Canada and the U.S., looking at how privacy and access to information laws impact and are impacted by recent events.
And we’ll wrap up looking at the recommendations from the Final Report on Foreign Interference in Canada, including whether it adequately addresses concerns over political parties’ management of your personal information.
Show Notes: https://fipa.bc.ca/20250201-access-and-privacy-online/
Individual Stories: https://fipa.bc.ca/tag/2025-season-episode-05/
Support these efforts by subscribing or donating.
Send comments to FIPAOnline@fipa.bc.ca
Our Contributors:
Writing: Shaun Fisk | Production: Patrick Farnsworth | Music: Breakmaster Cylinder
Access and Privacy Online: https://fipa.bc.ca/research-resources/podcasts/access-and-privacy-online/
News stories through the Canadian Press and Feedly.
Available through: PodBean, Apple iTunes, YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM. ListenNotes, Podchaser, Boomplay

Wednesday Jan 29, 2025
Commentary: Info Summit Commissioners Series Alberta Changes Event
Wednesday Jan 29, 2025
Wednesday Jan 29, 2025
In this week's commentary, the full recording of the Info Summit Commissioners Series Alberta Changes Event.
Legislation:
- Bill 33 Protection of Privacy Act
- Bill 33 Amendment
- Bill 34 Access to Information Act
- Bill 34 Amendment
Alberta OIPC
- Alberta Information and Privacy Commissioner calls for changes to new proposed public sector access and privacy legislation for Alberta
- Letters from OIPC to Government of Alberta regarding Bills 33 and 34 – November 20, 2024
Prior FIPA Commentaries
- Nov 27 https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-ecyiv-174add6
- Dec 11 https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-6xs5j-176a8e8
Follow FIPA on Eventbrite
Support these efforts by subscribing or donating.
Send comments to FIPAOnline@fipa.bc.ca
Access and Privacy Commentary: https://fipa.bc.ca/research-resources/podcasts/access-and-privacy-commentary/
Access and Privacy Online: https://fipa.bc.ca/research-resources/podcasts/access-and-privacy-online/
News stories through the Canadian Press and Feedly.
Available through: PodBean, Apple iTunes, YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM. ListenNotes, Podchaser, Boomplay

Saturday Jan 25, 2025
News Summary January 25th, 2025
Saturday Jan 25, 2025
Saturday Jan 25, 2025
Coming up in your Access and Privacy News Summary for Saturday, January 25th.
This week, we’ll start by covering cybersecurity concerns over TikTok and its potential replacement, Red Note.
We see continued coverage of foreign and domestic data breeches affecting everyone intersecting Canadian Schools. Plus, we have updates from numerous Local Journalism Initiative stories frequent listeners will be familiar with.
We’ll wrap highlighting a recent FIPA event that examined Alberta’s updated access and privacy legislation.
Support these efforts by subscribing or donating.
Send comments to FIPAOnline@fipa.bc.ca
Show Notes: https://fipa.bc.ca/20250125-access-and-privacy-online/
Individual Stories: https://fipa.bc.ca/tag/2025-season-episode-04/
Our Contributors:
Writing: Shaun Fisk | Production: Patrick Farnsworth | Music: Breakmaster Cylinder
Access and Privacy Online: https://fipa.bc.ca/research-resources/podcasts/access-and-privacy-online/
News stories through the Canadian Press and Feedly.
Available through: PodBean, Apple iTunes, YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM. ListenNotes, Podchaser, Boomplay

Saturday Jan 18, 2025
News Summary January 18th, 2025
Saturday Jan 18, 2025
Saturday Jan 18, 2025
Coming up in your Access and Privacy News Summary for Saturday, January 18th.
This week, we’ll dive into the privacy implications for Canadians amidst growing border security measures, highlight troubling trends of cyberattacks on schools, and wrap with a look back at some major stories and FIPA activities during the break, including a sneak peek into what lies ahead.
Stay tuned as we unpack these stories and more.
NOTE: FIPA is hosting a virtual gathering on January 22nd to discuss new legislation impacting Alberta’s access and privacy laws. Register on Eventbrite for insights from Commissioner Diane McLeod and an expert panel discussion.
Support these efforts by subscribing or donating.
Send comments to FIPAOnline@fipa.bc.ca
Show Notes: https://fipa.bc.ca/20250118-access-and-privacy-online/
Individual Stories: https://fipa.bc.ca/tag/2025-season-episode-03/
Our Contributors:
Writing: Shaun Fisk | Production: Patrick Farnsworth | Music: Breakmaster Cylinder
Access and Privacy Online: https://fipa.bc.ca/research-resources/podcasts/access-and-privacy-online/
News stories through the Canadian Press and Feedly.
Available through: PodBean, Apple iTunes, YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM. ListenNotes, Podchaser, Boomplay

Wednesday Jan 15, 2025
Commentary: The Year Ahead
Wednesday Jan 15, 2025
Wednesday Jan 15, 2025
In this commentary, we have a special sit-down with FIPA President Mike Larsen, Executive Director Jason Woywada, to look ahead at FIPA activities for 2025.
Tune in to learn about our year ahead.
Support these efforts by subscribing or donating.
Send comments to FIPAOnline@fipa.bc.ca
Access and Privacy Commentary: https://fipa.bc.ca/research-resources/podcasts/access-and-privacy-commentary/
Access and Privacy Online: https://fipa.bc.ca/research-resources/podcasts/access-and-privacy-online/
News stories through the Canadian Press and Feedly.
Available through: PodBean, Apple iTunes, YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM