Report: Canadian data privacy a mess

OTTAWA, June 4 (UPI) -- Canada's privacy commissioner says companies are being lax in protecting consumer data after 2007 saw a "year of data privacy disasters."

In an annual report, Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart said banks generated the most complaints -- 105 of 350 -- of alleged violations of Canada's Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act.

Last year "was the year of data privacy disasters, highlighting the need for companies to recognize the value of personal information and take more care in securing it," the report says.

The review said many companies are still remiss in using "elementary security measures," such as encrypting laptops and using firewalls, the Canwest News Agency said.

In an interview with the news agency, Stoddart said she was disappointed the growing number of reports of identity theft hadn't seen corporations tighten up.

"I would think with the alarm bells going off about huge data security breaches that most companies would be taking more active steps," Stoddart told Canwest.