Category: Uncategorized

  • “I thought we deleted that!” Metadata and Hidden Data

    “I thought we deleted that!” Metadata and Hidden Data

    What are Metadata and Hidden Data? Metadata Metadata refers to information “about” a record.  For a Microsoft Word document, this could include information such as the author of the document, the date and time the document was created, the time spent editing the document, its length, its description, comments about the document, etc.  For a…

  • Decoding the names of FOI decisions

    Decoding the names of FOI decisions

    What do the names of FOI decisions mean? The Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (IPCO) assigns a unique identifier to each decision made by its adjudicators.  Generally, the identifier is a short string of letters and numbers, such as P-22, PO-2400, or MO-1508.  But in the early days of IPCO, orders were identified with…

  • Update: FOI Flowcharts have been sent (copies are still available)

    Update: FOI Flowcharts have been sent (copies are still available)

    If you requested a poster-sized printed copy of the FOI Flowchart, it has now been sent.  Keep an eye on your incoming mail, as the posters will be arriving shortly.  If you are an FOI professional in Ontario and you haven’t seen the FOI Flowchart yet, I suggest taking a look.  It is available for…

  • Receiving an FOI Request from a Lawyer

    Receiving an FOI Request from a Lawyer

    When you have received a Freedom Of Information (FOI) request from a lawyer, there are a few things to consider: Is your organization obligated to respond to FOI requests? An earlier article, Do I have to respond to a Freedom Of Information (FOI) request?, may help you answer this question.  Keep in mind this guidance applies only…

  • Requests for Personal Information with the Consent of the Individual

    Requests for Personal Information with the Consent of the Individual

    Institutions are sometimes faced with a request from someone who purports to be acting on behalf or with the consent of the individual whose personal information is being requested.  The requestor in this case may be a lawyer, insurance company, or agent, or it may simply be a friend a relative who is helping the…

  • Verifying the Identity of the Requestor

    Verifying the Identity of the Requestor

    The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Manual (the “FOI Manual”) notes that when a requestor asks an institution for the requestor’s own personal information, the institution must first verify the identity of the requestor before any personal information is disclosed.  The FOI Manual suggests that an institution may be able to fulfill the…