Researchers Ian Kerr and Valerie Steeves to present findings from their book, Lessons from the Identity Trail, at event organized by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.
Ottawa – Laws in Canada and around the world are reinforcing technology’s ability to undermine the anonymity of citizens, according to a new study by leading scholars from Canada, U.S., U.K., Netherlands and Italy.
The study, which will be unveiled on April 8th in Ottawa, reveals scant protection of anonymity, a preference for laws requiring people to be identified and an increasing encroachment of the law into areas where there were previously no rules prohibiting anonymity.
These and other research findings are outlined in the recently published book, Lessons from the Identity Trail: Anonymity, Privacy and Identity in a Networked Society.
The authors were part of a collaborative research initiative, On the Identity Trail.
Professor Ian Kerr, Research Chair in Ethics, Law and Technology at the University of Ottawa, was the principal investigator of On the Identity Trail, which studied the impact of technology on privacy, identity and anonymity. The book’s co-editor is Valerie Steeves, Assistant Professor at the University of Ottawa’s Department of Criminology and Faculty of Law.
Professors Kerr and Steeves will discuss their research findings at an event organized by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner this week. The Privacy Commissioner of Canada, Jennifer Stoddart, will make a few opening remarks.
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner has been a partner in the On the Identity Trail project, collaborating on a number of key educational activities, information sessions and student training. The results of this study into the way in which technologies are changing society will be of interest to policy makers, corporations and individuals.
Event details are as follows:
Date and time: April 8, 2009 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Location: Marriott Hotel, 100 Kent Street, Albert Salon
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For further information:
Anne-Marie Hayden, Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
Tel: (613) 995-0103 or ahayden@privcom.gc.ca
