Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for BC

Our first tip after experiencing a privacy breach or other cybersecurity incident is to lock down your accounts. Change passwords and enable multi-factor authentication. #cybersecuritymonth #identitytheft

The OIPC's Access Conference is Nov. 2. Panel 3, "On the record: FOI & journalism in BC," will be moderated by Mike Larsen, President, BC FIPA, with Amanda Follet Hosgood, Northern BC Reporter, The Tyee, & Francesca Fionda, Data Lead, Spotlight: Child Welfare. Info: oipc.bc.ca/news-events/...

October is Cybersecurity Month, and this week, we will be sharing steps to take if you believe your information has been compromised. #cybersecuritymonth #identitytheft

Our final tip to reduce risk of identity theft is to regularly review your bank and credit card statements. Request a free copy of your credit report from Equifax or TransUnion to review for suspicious activity & ensure no unauthorized accounts have been opened in your name.

The OIPC's access conference coming up on Nov. 2. For the full agenda: www.oipc.bc.ca/media/19412/... More info: www.oipc.bc.ca/news-events/...

Tip no. 6 to reduce risk of identity theft: only provide your personal information when necessary for a specific service. Before sharing sensitive info, ask why it is being collected, how it will be protected & if there is an alternative form of identification you can provide #cybersecuritymonth

Tip number five to reduce your risk of identity theft is to be cautious of unsolicited emails or text messages asking for personal information, as these are often phishing attempts designed to steal log-in credentials and account information. #cybersecuritymonth #identitytheft

Tip number four to reduce your risk of identity theft: Avoid using public Wi-Fi for financial transactions or accessing sensitive accounts. If you must access these accounts while away from home, use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) or mobile device data hotspot. #cybersecuritymonth #identitytheft

Our third tip to help reduce your risk of identity theft: Keep your devices secure with reputable antivirus software and regular updates to prevent malware and hacking. These updates often include critical security patches that fix vulnerabilities. #cybersecuritymonth #identitytheft

The OIPC Access Conference is coming November 2! For the full agenda: oipc.bc.ca/media/19412/... More information: oipc.bc.ca/news-events/...

Our second tip to reduce your risk of identity theft is to use unique, strong passphrases for every online account & avoid using the same passphrase across platforms. Consider passkeys and a password manager and enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add an extra layer of security.

Our first tip is to ensure that documents containing sensitive information are stored securely, onsite or in a digital file. When these documents are no longer needed, it is safer to shred them rather than placing them in recycling or garbage bins. #cybersecuritymonth #identitytheft

October is Cybersecurity Month, and this week, we will be sharing tips to reduce your risk of identity theft. Be sure to check in next week, too, as we provide more tips to follow if your personal information has been compromised. #cybersecuritymonth #identitytheft

Consultation closing Oct. 16, 2026. The OIPC is holding a public consultation to learn about the experiences of applicants & public bodies with large volume requests. The consultation will help inform the interim time extension framework & guide future improvements. Info: oipc.bc.ca/resources/in...

Wondering about the steps to making an access request? Download our infographic, How to make an access request. www.oipc.bc.ca/documents/in... Thanks for joining us this week as we celebrated Right to Know Week and the International Day for Universal Access to Information. #RTK2026

You can also request records that are held by a provincial ministry or agency. Note: if you want to request records from Crown Corporations, school districts, or health authorities, contact them directly, as they process their own records. #RTK2026

The type of personal information you can request from a public body in an FOI request is varied. It includes personal information from government records about yourself or, if appropriate, on behalf of someone else. #RTK2026

On September 30, the OIPC will respectfully observe the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as well as Orange Shirt Day in our continuing efforts to advance truth and reconciliation. Information about National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day: www.canada.ca/en/canadian-...

Under BC’s FIPPA, applicants have the right to make a request to a public body for access to records & a public body must respond to the request. Our guidance can help public bodies & individuals understand the FOI process. Download FIPPA FOI Process guidance: www.oipc.bc.ca/documents/gu... #RTK2026

The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA), applies to over 2,900 "public bodies," including ministries, local governments, schools, crown corporations, hospitals, municipal police forces, and more. #RTK2026

Deputy Commissioner Jeannette Van Den Bulk, shown here at the ICIC/IDUAI conference in Sierra Leone, thanks host Dr. Ibrahim Seaga Shaw, Chairman/Information Commissioner, Sierra Leone. She participated in a panel discussion, “Access to Credible Data for Open Government and Public Sector Reform."

Nine OIPC staff and four canine friends joined MitoCanada's annual Light Up for Mito Walk in Victoria to raise awareness about mitochondrial diseases. Buildings in downtown Victoria were lit up in green as part of World Mitochondrial Disease Week 2026.

Today is Right to Know Day, an international day celebrating the right to access information from public bodies. Follow us here as we provide information and tips about your Right to Know, all week long. #RTK2026

The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia (OIPC) has released the following statement for Right to Know Week 2026, which the office will mark from September 28 to October 2, 2026: oipc.bc.ca/documents/ne...

Consultation underway: The OIPC is holding a public consultation to learn about the experiences of applicants and public bodies with large volume requests. Participate in the consultation: lnkd.in/gX7BbWZM Learn more: lnkd.in/gi8KCx6G

Canada's information and privacy regulators concluded their annual meeting yesterday in Ottawa. They came together this week to discuss how to safeguard transparency, privacy, and accountability in the face of rapid technological change.

Today, Canada's commissioners & ombuds discussed how access to information supports transparency & public understanding of government decision-making; they explored how new technologies are changing the way government records are created/managed, & the implications for access rights and privacy.

Attendees of the annual commissioners and ombuds meeting visited the Supreme Court of Canada yesterday, where they met with the Honourable Mahmud Jamal. L to R: Deputy Commissioner Jeannette Van Den Bulk, BC Information and Privacy Commissioner Michael Harvey, and Deputy Commissioner oline Twiss.

Today was the first day of the annual meeting of Federal-Provincial-Territorial Information and Privacy Commissioners and Ombuds, this year hosted by the Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada in Ottawa, Canada.

The annual meeting of Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial information & privacy commissioners & ombuds is underway in Ottawa. The meeting will examine key issues at the intersection of emerging technologies, national security, transparency & public trust in the digital age.

At a glance: Interim time extension framework for large time extension requests. Download the infographic: oipc.bc.ca/documents/in...

News Release: OIPC launches consultation on large volume freedom of information requests. Read the full release: oipc.bc.ca/documents/ne... Download "Time extension guidelines for public bodies": www.oipc.bc.ca/documents/gu...

Concerned about privacy breaches? Our guidance for public and privacy sector organizations can help. It outlines how to prevent privacy breaches, respond quickly when one does happen, and help people affected by identity theft. Download the guidance here: oipc.bc.ca/documents/gu...

If you suspect you've been the victim of identity theft or have received a privacy breach notification, act quickly to minimize any damage. Here are five steps to take right away. Download the infographic: oipc.bc.ca/documents/gu...

Are you using AI tools for your everyday tasks, including making a submission to our office? Check out our new guidance, "Before you rely on AI: what to know," for tips and best practices. Download: oipc.bc.ca/documents/gu...

New guidance from the OIPC aims to help public bodies, private sector organizations, and individuals prevent and respond to identity threat. Read the news release: oipc.bc.ca/documents/ne... Read the guidance: www.oipc.bc.ca/documents/gu...

News release: Information and Privacy Commissioner Michael Harvey confirmed today that his Office is examining the cybersecurity risks and loss of transparency associated with the removal of public access to the BC Government Directory. Read the full release: www.oipc.bc.ca/documents/ne...

Join the OIPC on Nov. 2, 2026, for a 1-day, in-person conference. "Trust, transparency, and technology: Access to information in BC." For BC FOI professionals, public-sector organizations, media, civil society & the public. Early-bird rates til Aug. 31. Info, to register, oipc.bc.ca/news-events/...

Last night, at an event hosted by Advantage Property Management, Trevor Presley, OIPC Director of Investigations, and Tess Kim, OIPC Policy Analyst, offered a workshop to approximately 75 strata council members, and provided information and solutions for some of these common issues.

The OIPC & Information & Privacy Commissioner of Ontario have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to allow the Commissioners to assist, consult, cooperate, & share relevant information with one another with regards to matters arising under their respective Statutes. Info: oipc.bc.ca/media/18438/...

We're hiring a Senior Investigator for the newly established Emerging Information and Privacy Technologies team. Apply through this link: www.oipc.bc.ca/about/careers/

The number of requests for review of access to information decisions made to the OIPC increased by 47%, from 755 in 2024-25 to 1,110 in 2025-26 OIPC Annual Report and Service Plan 2025/26: https://oipc.bc.ca/documents/news-releases/3187

Access complaints - made when there are concerns about how a public body or organization processed an access request – increased by 75%, from 448 in 2024-25 to 784 in 2025-26. OIPC Annual Report and Service Plan 2025/26: https://oipc.bc.ca/documents/budget-annual-report-service-plans/3188

The number of privacy complaints made to the OIPC under both our public and private sector laws nearly doubled, from 456 in 2024-25 to 904 in 2025-2026. OIPC Annual Report and Service Plan 2025/26: http://oipc.bc.ca/documents/budget-annual-report-service-plans/3188

Commissioner Harvey discusses the OIPC Annual Report and Service Plan 2025/26: https://youtu.be/OmswONvnBRo

News Release: Annual Report and Service Plan 2025/2026: Commissioner calls for reform to modernize laws to build trust amid unprecedented demand for OIPC services https://oipc.bc.ca/documents/news-releases/3187

Overview of our newly published investigation report: Collecting & reporting public body FOI metrics: http://oipc.bc.ca/documents/infographics/3183 Full report: http://oipc.bc.ca/documents/investigation-reports/3178

News release: Commissioner calls for mandatory reporting of public body FOI metrics as new report reveals transparency gap http://oipc.bc.ca/documents/news-releases/3179 Investigation Report: Collecting and reporting public body FOI metrics http://oipc.bc.ca/documents/investigation-reports/3178

Read Commissioner Michael Harvey's editorial, which appeared in today's Vancouver Sun. Opinion: We need a new social contract for the Information Age. www.oipc.bc.ca/documents/pu...

Thanks for joining us for Privacy Awareness Week. We leave you with one last tip when using AI: Think before you share. Information entered into an AI tool may be retained for long periods and be hard, or impossible, to delete. #PAW