Unsecured video of students was picked up and distributed by a Russian website. CBC News blurred the faces of the students to protect their identities.

Unsecured video of students was picked up and distributed by a Russian website. CBC News blurred the faces of the students to protect their identities.
Photo Credit: CBC News

Why video of students was live streamed

Inadequate passwords and insufficient technical controls led to videos of school children being live streamed on the internet, reports a privacy commissioner in eastern Canada.  Catherine Tully is mandated by the government of the province of Nova Scotia to apply the laws protecting the privacy of residents in that province. In Canada there are privacy laws passed by the federal and provincial governments.

She investigated the use of video surveillance cameras at a school in Iona and a live feed that was picked up and distributed by a Russian website.

: It is Catherine Tully’s job to protect the privacy of residents of Nova Scotia and so, she agreed to investigate this case.
: It is Catherine Tully’s job to protect the privacy of residents of Nova Scotia and so, she agreed to investigate this case. © CBC News/file photo

Not enough done yet

While the Cape Breton- Victoria Regional School Board has changed the passwords on all its video surveillance cameras, Tully says it “has not yet implemented adequate technical or administrative controls to reduce the risk of future privacy breaches.”

The Nova Scotia privacy commissioner said school boards must check if they are breaking privacy laws by setting up surveillance cameras in and around schools.
The Nova Scotia privacy commissioner said school boards must check if they are breaking privacy laws by setting up surveillance cameras in and around schools. © CBC News

School asked to balance safety and privacy

Tully also notes this school board and others in the province have implemented this kind of surveillance without first conducting an assessment on privacy and whether it complies with the law. She says it is essential they do this in order “to find the proper balance between ensuring the safety of children while respecting their privacy.”

Tully is “pleased to note” that all school boards in the province except for Cape Breton- Victoria Regional have voluntarily agreed to participate in a privacy impact assessment workshop facilitated by her office.

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