Canada watchdog says SWIFT upheld privacy law
Legal World
[##_1L|1133489091.jpg|width="90" height="107" alt=""|_##]Canadian Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart concluded an investigation Monday into the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT), finding that the European financial cooperative did not violate Canadian privacy laws by post-September 11 information-sharing with the US Department of the Treasury. SWIFT was alleged to have illegally disclosed personal information of some customers of Canadian financial institutions in violation of Canada's Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). Stoddart found that while SWIFT was subject to the terms of PIPEDA, it did not contravene the Act when it complied with lawful subpoenas served outside the country and disclosed personal information about Canadians to foreign authorities.
Stoddart said she would petition Canadian authorities to encourage the US to rely on existing, more transparent measures such as anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism financing mechanisms rather than subpoenas.
In November the European Commission's Article 29 Data Protection Working Party found that SWIFT violated European privacy laws when it released similar information about cross-border wire transfers by European citizens to the US government. The New York Times and other papers revealed the once-secret program in June 2006, prompting sharp criticism from the Bush administration, which defended the initiative. According to US government officials, the program targeted those with suspected ties to Al Qaeda.
http://www.privcom.gc.ca/aboutUs/message_e.asp
Related listings
-
Hicks applies for transfer to Australia prison
Legal World 04/02/2007[##_1L|1100019938.jpg|width="110" height="120" alt=""|_##]Australian Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks has submitted an application to be transferred to a prison near his home in South Australia to serve the remainder of his nine-month sentence aft...
-
Iraqi Arabs angered over Kirkuk relocation proposal
Legal World 04/02/2007Arab residents of the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk expressed anger Sunday at the government's plan to encourage relocation of the city's Arab population. Most of the city's current residents were forced to move to the now ethnically diverse, oil-ric...
-
Russia bans foreign workers from retail jobs
Legal World 04/01/2007[##_1L|1309810044.jpg|width="118" height="78" alt=""|_##]A Russian law banning all foreigners from the country's retail industry took effect Sunday. The new law, passed by the Russian assembly last year, is expected to affect tens of thousands of wor...
New York Commercial Litigation Law Firm - Woods Lonergan PLLC
Founded in 1993 by Managing Partner James F. Woods, Woods Lonergan PLLC has built a strong reputation as a resourceful and industrious firm that provides clients with clear, concise, and straightforward answers to their most challenging legal issues. Partner Lawrence R. Lonergan, who joined the firm in 2008, has been a friend and colleague to Mr. Woods for over 40 years and shares the same business philosophy. Woods Lonergan PLLC’s collective experience and expertise enables the firm to expeditiously and effectively analyze the increasing challenges clients face in an evolving business and legal world, in many instances, avoiding unnecessary time and expense to our clients. Our mission is simple: provide cutting-edge expertise and sound advice in select areas of the law for corporate and business clients. We thrive on providing each client with personalized attention, forceful representation, and a collaborative team effort that embraces collective knowledge.