Privacy is part of the discussion in International Law; that is, there is an effort to regulate data protection in all countries. However, the use of technology varies in different regions, and each constitution presents a different level of complexity.
If a country has well-defined consumer protection rules and its citizens are aware of the importance of data security, enforcing legislation becomes easier. However, many governments have been striving to improve existing regulations.
In Canada, Bill C-27 was introduced, proposed by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General David Lametti and the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, François-Philippe. This bill proposes the creation of the Digital Charter of 2022, expanding legal approaches.
The document outlines a division of the law into three conditions:
- Consumer Privacy Protection Law.
- Data Protection Court Act.
- Artificial Intelligence and Data Law.
The first laws, concerning consumers and the courts, are directly related to justice and the knowledge of Canadian citizens. The distinction prioritizes the understanding of these rights by people who feel vulnerable due to online exposure.
These three legal devices would replace PIPEDA (Law on the Protection of Personal Information and Electronic Documents), reinforcing the government's commitment to digital citizenship.
The use of AI to provide services such as virtual assistants reflects an innovation that brings practicality to daily life. On the other hand, despite all the effort, corporations are not always transparent and transform addresses, personal interests, contacts, and other data into products.
The Data Protection Law is also about raising awareness among people about their rights.
Consent is only one step in guaranteeing privacy, because everyone needs to know exactly which organizations use these records and why this surveillance is being carried out, not just express that certain information will be used for marketing campaigns.
Fines for companies that violate the regulations will be 5% of total revenue or US$25 million, depending on turnover. The situation remains uncertain, so for now the audits are more flexible.
Currently, corporate profitability comes from information found on the internet. Could restricting this information discourage business and weaken the country's economy?
The Canadian government says it is prepared to ensure responsible innovation.
“In today’s economy, Canada’s competitiveness depends on our ability to use digital innovation to harness the power of data,” said Champagne.
This shows that it's not just public institutions that have begun to worry about this new wave of awareness. Private companies like Google, which derive their financial return exclusively from the use of information, are preparing for changes.
On July 1, 2023, the system will stop collecting data without restrictions. Google Analytics will no longer offer the same features and may collect data with a time limit for disposal in updated versions of the platform.
