Ontario updates deidentification guidelines for safer data use
The IPC’s 100-page update offers practical tools for anonymising and using data safely.
Ontario’s privacy watchdog has released an expanded set of deidentification guidelines to help organisations protect personal data while enabling innovation. The 100-page document from the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (IPC) offers step-by-step advice, checklists and examples.
The update modernises the 2016 version to reflect global regulatory changes and new data protection practices. She emphasised that the guidelines aim to help organisations of all sizes responsibly anonymise data while maintaining its usefulness for research, AI development and public benefit.
Developed through broad stakeholder consultation, the guidelines were refined with input from privacy experts and the Canadian Anonymization Network. The new version responds to industry requests for more detailed, operational guidance.
Although the guidelines are not legally binding, experts said following them can reduce liability risks and strengthen compliance with privacy laws. The IPC hopes they will serve as a practical reference for executives and data officers.
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