Concerning domestic violence data worries experts in Canada

Privacy commissioners across Canada have passed a unanimous motion to overhaul public information policies surrounding Intimate Partner Violence (IPV).

The joint resolution, drafted in October and disclosed to the public today (Nov. 27) by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, aims to tackle how private information is disclosed when reviewing and preventing IPV scenarios.

Specifically, in this case, by making government and private agencies  “develop privacy policies around the permissible disclosure of personal information in situations involving risks to life, health or safety,” as indicated by the resolution.

The statement noted that, in 2023 alone, 123,319 IPV incidents in Canada were reported to the police with victims or survivors aged 12 years and older

Privacy commissioners noted that while deeply concerning, the stark reality is that these numbers greatly underrepresent IPV cases across the country — as many are unreported due to fear and a lack of confidence in the justice system.

Operating in tandem with this lack of a concrete understanding nationwide, commissioners backing the resolution also cited a staggering increase in demands for public inquiries related to IPV cases, including the ongoing National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

To combat violent incidents and prevent further cases, the resolution is establishing an educational framework that ensures that any agency operating within the legal structure of IPV assistance (Social workers, shelters, law enforcement, etc) receives a crash course in how privacy laws surrounding IPV cases operate to better assist both the public and victims.

“Intimate partner violence is a deeply disturbing issue, affecting individuals and communities here in Ontario and across the country,” said Patricia Kosseim, Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario alongside the resolution. “This joint resolution is a collective affirmation by federal, provincial, and territorial privacy regulators that privacy laws are not a barrier to disclosing information when there is a risk of serious harm to someone’s health and safety.

Details within the motion noted that personal information sharing is inherently crucial if it may provide insight into situations where there is further risk to life, health or safety. Additional incentives also include data sharing across all agencies to better acquire an understanding of which groups of Canadians are more directly impacted by IPV.

For more information on the resolution, visit the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada’s official website.