Canada's privacy watchdog issues warnings

OTTAWA, Feb. 13 (UPI) -- Canada's federal privacy commissioner says there are significant privacy risks in the handling of passport and election personal data.

At an Ottawa news conference, Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart said an investigation had determined overseas consular officials routinely had much more personal information about citizens than they needed and, in some cases, shared their passwords with junior employees, Sun Media reported. She said there was also evidence paper records that should have been shredded were left in the garbage or recycling bins.

As for voter information, Stoddart said the Elections Canada agency possesses too much personal data about Canadians, including those too young to vote and too many people have access to it, the report said.

"We're concerned that voters' personal information could fall into the wrong hands and be used for illegal purposes," she said.

Stoddart said her office receives many complaints about laws that permit Elections Canada to provide bare-bones voter information such as names and addresses to political parties, which use the information for campaigning, the report said.