GOVN /CRJS/LGST 377: Issues in Access to Information and Privacy Protection (Rev. 2) Report a Broken Link

Welcome to GOVN 377: Issues in Access to Information and Privacy Protection. This course has been designed for senior students who are interested in the regulatory regime governing information access and protection of privacy in a globalized, networked world. It explains access and privacy rights and interests, and explores the application of the same. It also illustrates the competing ideas of where the boundary should be between transparency and privacy, both of which are said to promote a societal good.

Textbook


Stefanick L,. (2011). Controlling knowledge: Freedom of Information and Privacy Protection in a Networked World. Edmonton, AB: Athabasca University Press

Required Readings


Unit 1


Alan F. Westin, “Social and Political Dimensions of Privacy” Journal of Social Issues. 59. 2 (2003): 431–453.

Note: This article is for the first version (C1) of this course only.

David H. Flaherty, “Visions of Privacy: Past, Present, and Future in Colin J. Bennett and Rebecca Grant,” eds. Visions of Privacy: Policy Choices for the Digital Age. (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1999), pp. 19–38.

Note: This article is for the first version (C1) of this course only.

Unit 2


David Lyon, “Surveillance as Social Sorting” (YouTube)
Jim Stroud. “Whatever happened to employee privacy?” (YouTube)
Bennett, Colin J., Kevin D. Haggerty, David Lyon, and Valerie Steeves. “The Growing Ambiguity of Personal Information,” Transparent Lives: Surveillance in Canada, Edmonton: Athabasca University Press, 2014. P. 71-86.

Unit 3


PoliticsMatters, "Freedom of Information Act the Pros and Cons." (YouTube)
Clark, A, Lindquist, E.A. & Roy, J. (2017). “Understanding governance in the digital era: An agenda for public administration research in Canada.” Canadian Public Administration, 60(4): 457–475. 
Alasdair Roberts, “Less Government, More Secrecy: Reinvention and the Weakening  Law” Public Administration Review 60: 4 (2000): 308-320. 

Note: This article is for the first version (C1) of this course only.

Murray Rankin, “The Access to Information Act 25 Years Later: Toward A New Generation of Access Rights in Canada,” Public Policy Forum, 10 June 2008, pp. 3–26.

Note: This article is for the first version (C1) of this course only.

Unit 4


Unit 5


Bernal, Paul. “Data gathering, surveillance and human rights: recasting the debate” Journal of Cyber Policy. 1, 2 (2016): 243-264.
Simon Denyer. “China’s Watchful Eye.” The Washington Post. 07 January, 2018.
Alasdair Roberts, “National Security and Open Government,” Georgetown Public Policy Review, 9, 2 (2004): 69–85.

Note: This article is for the first version (C1) of this course only.

Unit 6


Cathy O'Neil, The Era of Blind Faith in Big Data Must End. Ted Talk, 7 September 2017. (YouTube)
Deyer, Simon. “China’s Plan to Organize Its Society Relies on ‘Big Data’ to Rate Everyone.” The Washington Post. 22 October 2016.
Canada, Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada. Annual Report to Parliament 2007–2008—Report on the Privacy Act. February 2008. Ottawa, Ontario, pp. 23–31.

Note: This article is for the first version (C1) of this course only.

Ann Cavoukian, “Privacy and Radical Pragmatism: Change the Paradigm - A White Paper,” Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, 8 August 2008.

Note: This article is for the first version (C1) of this course only.

Unit 7


Willison, Donald J. “Health services research and personal health information: privacy concerns, new legislation and beyond” Canadian Medical Association Journal 159 (1998): 1378.
David A. Green and Kevin Milligan, “The Importance of the Long Form Census to Canada,” Canadian Public Policy / Analyse de Politiques, Vol. 36, No. 3 (September/septembre 2010), pp. 383–388.
Shannon Proudfoot, “Census with a swagger.” Maclean's. 16 May 2016, Vol. 129 Issue 19, pp. 18-20.

Note: Read Chapter 1, section B, Privacy v. Openness – Census Records only

World Statistics Day and the Canadian Census (YouTube)

Unit 8


Socialnomics 2018 (YouTube)
"Are You Living an Insta Lie? Social Media Versus Reality" (YouTube)
Jaron Lanier. "Why Algorithms Can’t Save Us from Trolls and Hate Speech.” (TedTalk)
“Is Social Media Hurting Your Mental Health” (TedTalk)
“How Facebook Tracks Your Data,” (YouTube)
“The Psychology Behind Facebook Data Breach” (YouTube)
“Second Thought, Why Facebook’s Data Scandal is a Big Deal” (YouTube)
“How Russia Invades Our Elections” (YouTube)
“Equifax Canada Co: Identity Theft” (YouTube)
"How China Is Changing Your Internet” (YouTube)
Bliss, Laura. (9 January 2018). "When a Tech Giant Plays Waterfront Developer." www.citylab.com
Helen Waters. “Why an Internet Slow Lane Is a Terrible Idea,” 15 May 2014 (TedTalk)
Lorna Stefanick, Chapter 7 in Controlling Knowledge: Access to Information and Protection of Privacy in a Networked World (Athabasca University: Athabasca 2011).