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Team prepares for B.C. provincials after tough loss Page A22
NEWS: Community rallies for local pharmacists /A3 ARTS: Bill Zuk reflects on what draws him to the Island /A17 GUEST COLUMN: A sour day at the legislature /A7
SAANICHNEWS Wednesday, April 1, 2015
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‘I was right’ Daniel Palmer/News staff
Saanich Mayor Richard Atwell addresses reporters outside the B.C. legislature on Monday, after the Privacy Commissioner Elizabeth Denham released a damning report into the District’s improper use of employee monitoring software. Denham launched her investigation after Atwell publicly aired his concerns over the spyware on Jan. 12.
Spyware use violated privacy laws, says watchdog Saanich staff displayed ‘deep lack of understanding’ on privacy laws: Commissioner Daniel Palmer News staff
B.C.’s privacy watchdog is blasting officials at the District of Saanich for their “deep lack of understanding” about privacy rights and laws in a report on the District’s use of employee monitoring software. The Spector 360 program, which is capable of monitoring computer keystrokes, instant messaging applications and capturing screenshots, was installed on the computer of Mayor Richard Atwell and 12 other stations on Dec. 2, the day after Atwell and councillors assumed office. Atwell made his concerns about the software publicly
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known on Jan. 12, which prompted an point where essentially, I was right, and investigation by the Office of the Informa- seemingly everyone else was wrong. And it took Elizabeth Denham to come out with tion and Privacy Commissioner. In her report, Elizabeth Denham said the her own investigation to validate what I was District failed to properly notify employees saying in the first place.” In an interview, Denham said she initiabout the installation and use of Spector ated the investigation into 360. Denham also found “the Saanich’s use of the spyDistrict’s submissions to my “This is not the ware because she noticed a office demonstrate a deep lack of understanding about 20th century anymore.” general lack of understanding around privacy rights in the most basic tenets of the Act, such as what constitutes -Elizabeth Denham, B.C. the workplace. She was also privacy commissioner concerned that the District the collection of personal would possibly continue to information.” At a press conference held Monday on use the spyware based on media reports the grounds of the B.C. legislature, Atwell at the time. “This is not the 20th century anymore,” said he feels vindicated in his belief that the Denham said. “Here was a case where there spyware crossed the line. “This is bigger than Saanich. It’s (about) appeared to be a very hurried decision to personal privacy for employees, citizens purchase off-the-shelf software to address and elected officials that goes beyond our some shortcomings in IT security with no consideration that they were even collectborders,” Atwell said. “I’m very concerned how we got to this ing personal information.”
Denham also criticized a Jan. 13 District press release that stated its employees had no reasonable expectation of privacy while using workplace computers. “Employees don’t check their privacy rights at the office door,” Denham said. “There are shades of grey … and tools that are reasonable in the office place, but keystroke logging and screen scraping and comprehensive monitoring in real-time of what employees are doing is seldom acceptable.” Also on Jan. 13, Coun. Judy Brownoff told reporters: “I want to assure the public that our security measures protect Saanich’s database and everything on the system. Our staff are in charge to ensure it’s secure.” Denham’s report makes clear that line of reasoning – that the software was installed to better protect the District’s IT resources – was faulty. PLEASE SEE: Council to review privacy report, Page A6
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