This "Theme Page" has links to two types of resources related to the study of Privacy and Technology. Students and teachers will find curricular resources (information, content...) to help them learn about this topic. In addition, there are also links to instructional materials (lesson plans) which will help teachers provide instruction in this theme. Please read our disclaimer.

Big Brother Goes High-Tech

Have you considered Big Brother a threat to your privacy? This article defines, in detail, many of the monitoring, surveillance and identification devices available today and the impact on our privacy and freedom from the data collected.

Computer Privacy vs. First and Fourth Amendment Rights

A document exploring the impact on an individual's right to privacy in the US from other people who have access to information available on databases. Employers, private and government institutions and law enforcement agencies have access to information which could be misleading and restrict a citizen's freedoms. The examples given indicate the first and fourth amendment in the US are possibly being violated by the legal system itself.

Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility

A group of computer scientists express their concerns about the impact of computer technology on society. As technical experts, they advise policy makers on the limitations of computer technology. As citizens, they draw public attention to applications of computing and how they affect society.

Concerning Hackers Who Break into Computer Systems

Although most people have a negative perception of hackers, this document presents hackers in a different light. Information is readily available to many people in society. How this information is used by some people is considered questionable. This document explores how "hackers have raised serious issues about values and practices in an information society".

Electronic Frontier Canada

"Electronic Frontier Canada (EFC) was founded to ensure that the principles embodied in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms remain protected as new computing, communications, and information technologies are introduced into Canadian society." EFC raises strong opposition to the Canadian Government's policy on limiting the individual's use of cryptography for privacy purposes.

Electronic Privacy Information Center

The goal of this group is to focus public attention on emerging American civil liberties issues and to protect privacy, the first Amendment, and constitutional values.

Guide to Good Privacy Practices

A document published by British Columbia's Information, Science and Technology Agency as a guide to help public agencies interpret and implement the province's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, since these agencies collect personal information from individuals.

Media Awareness Network: Privacy

The Media Awareness Network provides teachers with practical support for media education. The above link is to their page on privacy which includes updates from Canadian and US print media, debates on current issues, a resource room, and an examination of Canadian and international law. The two links below are to two resources from this site that will be particularly interesting to classroom teachers.

• Privacy Playground: The First Adventure of the Three Little CyberPigs An interactive game for grade 1-3 students designed to teach them how to spot and avoid on-line dangers and threats. In the teacher's guide, background information about the issues of online marketing and children's privacy is available.
• Teaching Resources on Privacy Lessons plans and free teaching kits for helping to teach elementary and secondary students a critical awareness about privacy and the security of their personal information.

Office of the Information & Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia

The Commissioner's role is to monitor the administration of British Columbia's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. This site provides a link to the Act. The site also contains many documents illustrating the Commissioner's activities. You are able to read his reports exhibiting the decisions and investigations made by his department.

Privacy Commissioner of Canada: Table of Contents

From this home page, there are many links to potentially valuable resources. Browse through the index (above) or any of the following links for a direct path to some pages with educational information on privacy.

• Fact Sheets Included are: Surfing Safely in CyberSpace, Faxing Personal Information, Social Insurance Number, and Privacy In Canada.
  
• Other Reports These reports address such issues as: a national DNA data bank,publicizing the identify of violent offenders on their release, smart cards, and privacy on the information highway.
  
• [The] Privacy Act Highlights of the main provisions of the Canadian Privacy Act.
  

Privacy International

"Privacy International is a human rights group formed in 1990 as a watchdog on surveillance by governments and corporations. " They conduct campaigns throughout the world to counter abuses of privacy through the use of information technology.

(The) Private Eyes Project

This educational resource is an on-line interactive project for secondary students in which they evaluate and debate the issues of Canadian law regarding privacy and technology.

Stalking the Wily Hacker

A story about how a laboratory was being hacked and what the owners decided to do to catch the hacker. It illustrates how data available on a protected network are not necessarily safe from intrusion.

(The) Technology and Human Rights Project

"The Technology and Human Rights Project was initiated in 1994 to monitor the impact of electronic communications networks on human rights and the democratic process. We believe it is paramount that the information highway of tomorrow respect the values of privacy, tolerance, free speech and open access to the democratic process."

Note: The sites listed above will serve as a source of curricular content in Privacy and Technology. For other resources in Information Technology (e.g., curricular content), or for lesson plans and theme pages, click the "previous screen" button below. Or, click here if you wish to return directly to the CLN menu which will give you access to educational resources in all of our subjects.