A deck for a Spring 2009 presentation on how social media is changing activism and challenging privacy

1. ‘With the rush to be online, is there still a place for privacy?’ May 15, 2009

3. We’ve moved beyond experimentation Forget about the 11 million Canadians on Facebook – the Pope has a YouTube channel!

4. Community building and technology go hand-in-hand in Canada

5. Our idea of community is changing - rapidly

6. Many communities are subtly shaped 1/3 By marketers Sick boy w/ the Cool T shirt

7. Many communities are subtly shaped 2/3 By activists

8. Many communities are subtly shaped 3/3 By politicians

9. How are communities defined today? Not by shared history Not by vague affinities But by action

10. Canadians are learning how to: establish an online identity express themselves - forcefully expect more – from everybody

11. What is the effect on government? tech-savvy activists aren’t waiting for us to act they are creating the tools and the resources they are making information free and flexible

12. The examples are international, pt. 1 In the United Kingdom, the government is experimenting with: Online consultations Ministerial blogs Twittering of Prime Ministerial visits abroad

13. The examples are international, pt. 2 In the United States, the administration is forcing: Increased transparency Open access to government data and info More responsive processes Implementing all the tools at once

14. Canadians are learning to expect a response: quickly with authority and with a solution

15. Which isn’t really our strength

16. What are WE doing in response? Monitoring Developing pilot projects Rolling out tools appropriate to the situation

17. Crisis Communications: a perfect example Public Health Agency’s H1N1 outreach efforts Public Safety’s Emergency Preparedness Campaign

18. Public Education: digital tools prove flexible youthprivacy.ca dpi.priv.gc.ca blog.privcom.gc.ca

20. What about privacy? The process of creating and maintaining an online identity is messy

21. Our understanding of privacy evolves over time cultural differences generational differences

22. What was that about messy? online tools are constantly evolving privacy protections vary from site to site, and from service to service Canadians are still learning what information to share, and what to safeguard

23. If Canadians were cautious, rational and unemotional, they would: second guess every decision to share personal information with their social networks constantly audit the information collected about them by online services, corporations and governments

24. Canadians face two significant privacy challenges Many sites continue to collect too much personal information They’re learning how build online relationships with friends, colleagues, businesses and governments

25. Their biggest obstacle? Every conversation online is treated just like a chat at the dinner table But there’s a permanent record of it

26. The repercussions are real employment risks social ostracism civil and criminal consequences

27. The particular risks of public sector participation Experience in the U.K. and the US has shown that public sector employees are reluctant to use social media. The U.K. and New Zealand governments have established very simple guidelines that encourage innovation but emphasize responsibility.

28. Conclusion Provide users with the tools to control their own personal information Establish an environment that encourages the use of these new tools – by citizens and by employees Set clear guidelines about how and when you will use these tools to communicate with Canadians.

29. Bridging the Gaps Aim for better mutual understanding and accommodation Provide clear, user-friendly information about privacy policies Give users tools to set and enforce privacy controls

30. Colin McKay cmckay@privcom.gc.ca