The Information and Privacy Commissioner, Michael Harvey, has released his Report A-2021-014 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-2021-014 |
| Report Date: | March 1, 2021 |
| Public Body: | Office of the High Sheriff |
| Summary: | The Office of the High Sheriff (the “Sheriff’s Office”) received an access to information request for surveillance video recordings from the Supreme Court on Duckworth Street during a specified date at three different times and locations. The Sheriff’s Office refused the request citing section 40 of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015 (disclosure harmful to personal privacy). Additionally, the Sheriff’s Office contended that it did not possess the necessary equipment or software to de-identify the footage. The Commissioner concluded that the Sheriff’s Office must acquire or source the capacity to de-identify persons recorded by its video surveillance systems. The Commissioner recommended that some video recordings be disclosed after they are de-identified. One video should be withheld in its entirety in accordance with section 40 because, under the circumstances, the identity of the individual may be known or reasonably ascertained despite any de-identification efforts. |
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Media contact
Sean Murray
Director of Research and Quality Assurance
709-729-6309
2021 03 03
10:00 am