The Information and Privacy Commissioner, Michael Harvey, has released his Report P-2020-002 under authority of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015. A summary of the Report is included below.
To view the Report in its entirety, please go to www.oipc.nl.ca/reports/commissioner.
| Report: | P-2020-002 |
| Report Date: | August 31, 2020 |
| Public Body: | Town of Howley |
| Summary: | Two complainants filed complaints with this Office alleging that their privacy had been breached when the Mayor of the Town of Howley improperly disclosed information about their out-of-province travel and isolation requirements in a series of posts to a Facebook group as well as emails to Council members and Town staff. These disclosures were made in the context of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic and were ostensibly made in order to protect the public. While the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador had announced a public health emergency on March 18, 2020 and had instituted a number of public health orders, including restrictions on travel and the requirement for returning travelers to self-isolate, the Town of Howley had no role in administering or enforcing these emergency powers. As such, the Town had no valid reason for disclosing personal information in this manner. Recommendations were made to the Town to review its social media policies. |
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Media contact
Sean Murray
Director of Research & Quality Assurance
709-729-6309
2020 09 02
12:00 pm