Ontario Privacy Commissioner begins Think Before You Copy campaign
By Adnews Staff
The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario has begun a campaign aimed at health care professionals intended to raise awareness of the risk of the disclosure of personal health information through the loss or theft of laptops, USB keys and similar devices. The initiative, called "Think Before You Copy," includes letters to all regulatory health colleges and professional associations in Ontario, as well as posters and stickers to place on vulnerable devices that display the copy, "Stop, Think, Encrypt." Additional material includes guidelines distributed to health care workers and articles in college and association newsletters. "These privacy breaches, which in recent years have included the loss or theft of the unencrypted personal health information of more than 100,000 patients, can and must be stopped," said Privacy Commissioner Ann Cavoukian. "Despite my issuing three health orders and other publications addressing this issue, it is still happening. The message is obviously not getting through to all levels. We have had cases where employees were not aware of a 'must encrypt' policy. We are reaching out to the colleges and associations for their assistance in getting this message out to the entire health sector."