Forgetting, Non-Forgetting and Quasi-Forgetting in Social Networking: Canadian Policy and Corporate Practice

21 Pages Posted: 30 Jan 2013 Last revised: 3 Mar 2013

See all articles by Colin Bennett

Colin Bennett

Department of Political Science, University of Victoria

Adam Molnar

Deakin University - Department of Criminology

Christopher A. Parsons

University of Toronto, Munk School of Global Affairs, Citizen Lab

Date Written: January 28, 2013

Abstract

In this paper we analyze some of the practical realities around deleting personal data on social networks with respect to the Canadian regime of privacy protection. We first discuss the extent to which Canadian privacy law imposes access, deletion, and retention requirements on data brokers. After this discussion we turn to corporate organizational practices. Our analyses of social networking sites’ privacy policies reveal how poorly companies recognize the right to have one’s personal information deleted in their existing privacy commitments and practices. Next, we turn to Law Enforcement Authorities (LEAs) and how their practices challenge the deletion requirements because of LEAs’ own capture, processing, and retention of social networking information. We conclude by identifying lessons from the Canadian experience and raising them against the intense transatlantic struggle over the scope of the deletion of data stored in cloud-based computing infrastructures.

Keywords: privacy, data protection, social networking, Canada, EU

Suggested Citation

Bennett, Colin and Molnar, Adam and Parsons, Christopher A., Forgetting, Non-Forgetting and Quasi-Forgetting in Social Networking: Canadian Policy and Corporate Practice (January 28, 2013). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2208098 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2208098

Colin Bennett

Department of Political Science, University of Victoria ( email )

3800 Finnerty Rd
Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2
Canada

HOME PAGE: http://www.colinbennett.ca

Adam Molnar

Deakin University - Department of Criminology ( email )

221 Burwood Hwy
Melbourne, Victoria 3125
Australia

Christopher A. Parsons (Contact Author)

University of Toronto, Munk School of Global Affairs, Citizen Lab ( email )

Toronto, Ontario
Canada

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