BC’s Information and Privacy Commissioner is slamming the District of Saanich over its use of employee monitoring software.
Elizabeth Denham launched an investigation after Saanich’s Mayor claimed software on city hall computers was being used to spy on him. In her new report, Denham says key features of the software should be disabled, and any data collected by the software should be destroyed.
Nanaimo-North Cowichan NDP MLA Doug Routley is the opposition spokesperson for the Citizens Services Ministry, which oversees the Freedom of Information and Privacy Protection Act.
Routley says it’s important that third party information be kept private, including discussions between members of the public and their elected representatives.
Routley says the employee monitoring software being used in Saanich was obviously a violation of that, and he hopes the Privacy Commissioner’s report sends a clear message to other jurisdictions.
Meanwhile, Saanich Mayor Richard Atwell says he feels vindicated by the Commissioner’s findings.
