dekazigzag / Depositphotos.com
EDMONTON — Alberta’s information and privacy commissioner says protecting the personal information of children and youth is a top priority as her office marks international Data Privacy Week.
Diane McLeod said children are among the most vulnerable users of digital services, particularly in education and social settings, and their information requires heightened care and oversight.
“In an increasingly digital world, children’s personal information is collected, used, altered and shared in ways and on a scale that requires heightened care, accountability and oversight,” McLeod said in a statement.
Data Privacy Week runs from Jan. 26 to Jan. 30 and is observed internationally.
McLeod pointed to Alberta’s new Protection of Privacy Act, which designates children’s information as sensitive and requires additional safeguards. She said she hopes upcoming changes to Alberta’s private sector privacy legislation will further strengthen protections for children.
The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner said it has been involved in several initiatives over the past year focused on children’s privacy.
In November, Alberta joined privacy regulators across Canada in issuing a joint statement urging governments, school authorities and technology providers to ensure educational technologies minimize data collection and include meaningful privacy safeguards.
That same month, the Alberta commissioner released an investigation into the PowerSchool data breach, which affected school boards in Alberta and other provinces. The investigation was coordinated with Ontario’s privacy commissioner and focused on safeguarding students’ personal information. The commissioners called on governments to use procurement policies to strengthen privacy protections when school systems negotiate contracts with education technology providers.
The Alberta office also participated in a 2025 Global Privacy Enforcement Network sweep examining children’s privacy in online apps and educational technology. Results of that review are expected to be released in 2026.
In addition, Alberta worked with provincial, territorial and federal counterparts on a joint investigation into TikTok, which found the platform’s age assurance measures and privacy protections for youth were inadequate and allowed advertisers to target young users.
McLeod said the findings highlight broader risks when digital platforms fail to design services with children’s privacy in mind.
“Children deserve to learn and play without having their personal information misused or exploited, including while participating in online activities,” she said. “They should not be subjected to harm due to the pursuit of profit by others.”
The privacy commissioner’s office operates independently of government and oversees Alberta’s access to information and privacy legislation, including laws governing public bodies, health information and the private sector.
Comments