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By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

emergence of innovative tech

Information and Privacy Commissioner highlights artificial intelligence in first annual report

Nov 28, 2023 | 4:51 PM

Alberta’s Information and Privacy Commissioner had her first annual report — for 2022-23 — tabled in the Legislature by the Speaker on Tuesday.

Diane McLeod began her five-year term as commissioner on Aug. 1

Chief among her key messages is attention to the continuing emergence and use of innovative technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), in the delivery of services.

“Innovative technologies can benefit citizens through improvement of services, but harm to individuals and the public can also result, including harm stemming from the use of personal or health information,” said McLeod. “I have always been a firm believer in supporting the use of technology to innovate, including technology that involves the use of personal or health information, so long as there is a clear pathway of responsible innovation.”

McLeod’s advocacy is for a proper regulatory framework to facilitate the use of personal and health information, where appropriate and necessary, in the development, implementation and use of innovative tech, a release states.

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“This framework must include measures to prevent harm, ensure effective oversight and provide strong deterrence against non-compliance,” added McLeod. “To encourage public trust, the system underlying the use of technology must be robust from a privacy management perspective. This will entail changes to all three laws that govern privacy in Alberta, as well as increased support to encourage the use of privacy management programs amongst public bodies, custodians and private sector organizations.”

The commissioner also emphasized the need to address a significant backlog in conducting OIPC casework, built up over several years.

The annual report is available on the OIPC website at https://oipc.ab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Annual-Report-22-23.pdf.

Alberta’s Information and Privacy Commissioner performs their responsibilities according to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP Act), the Health Information Act (HIA) and the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA). The Commissioner operates independent of government.