Food and discussion begins at 12:30 pm. Everyone invited.

Technological advances have far-reaching privacy implications: sometimes they create ways to protect confidentiality, but they also create new opportunities for the collection and dissemination of personal information. Those involved in the privacy field keep a close watch on emerging technologies and analyze their potential effects on society, law, and policy. From the smart grid and intelligent transportation systems, to ubiquitous surveillance and geolocation services, new directions in technology have given rise to new privacy challenges. In this talk, I will describe some of the technological issues that the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada has been tracking recently, and speculate on some emerging areas that could give rise to privacy concerns in the near future.

Bio:

Tara Whalen joined the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) in December 2009, where she works as an IT Research Analyst. Prior to joining the OPC, she conducted post-doctoral research in computer security at Carleton University. She holds a PhD in Computer Science from Dalhousie University, and an MMath from the University of Waterloo. Tara has more than ten years’ experience in the information security and privacy fields, including roles in research labs, academia, federal government institutions, and the private sector. Her research interests include the human factors of security and the social implications of technology.