GATINEAU – The Privacy Commissioner of Canada wants privacy education included in digital literacy curricula to help young Canadians safeguard their privacy in the ever complex digital environment.
An open letter to the Council of Ministers of Education signed by Privacy Commissioner Daniel Therrien and the heads of all federal, provincial and territorial privacy protection authorities says that individuals who learn to protect their privacy, exercise control over their personal information and respect the privacy of others at an early age will gain tools that will serve them well into adulthood.
“Although many schools across Canada currently teach digital literacy skills, they generally focus on personal safety risks or on acquiring digital skills for the labour market”, continues the letter. “With the exception of certain one-time initiatives, privacy is not necessarily a part of the courses offered, and many students graduate high school never having learned how to think critically about the information they emit into cyberspace or how to safeguard their digital footprint. This leaves them at unnecessary risk.”
