Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner – Report A-2020-019 Released

  • Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner

September 18, 2020

The Information and Privacy Commissioner, Michael Harvey, has released his Report A-2020-019 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: A-2020-019
Report Date: September 16, 2020
Public Body: Memorial University of Newfoundland
Summary:  The Complainant requested from Memorial University of Newfoundland (“Memorial”) information relating to the Linux file server, a list of employees with administrator privileges, and the Computer System Administration Policy. Memorial provided access to some of the records, but withheld some records pursuant to section 31 (disclosure harmful to law enforcement) of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015 (“ATIPPA, 2015”) as disclosure would reveal the arrangements for the security of a computer system. Memorial advised that some of the Linux file information was outside its custody and control and that the Computer System Administration Policy no longer existed. The Complainant alleged that Memorial inappropriately withheld the information under section 31. The Complainant also challenged Memorial’s position that it did not have custody or control of some of the records, and alleged that Memorial failed in its duty to assist him by failing to conduct a reasonable search for records. The Commissioner found that the settings and configuration of the Linux server were exempt from disclosure under section 31(1)(l) but recommended that Memorial University of Newfoundland disclose to the Complainant the list of individuals with administrative privileges.

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Media Contact
Sean Murray
Director of Research & Quality Assurance
709-729-6309

2020 09 18 9:45 am