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EDMONTON — Alberta’s information and privacy commissioner has launched a formal investigation into allegations the Centurion Project improperly collected, used and disclosed personal information taken from Alberta’s List of Electors.
Privacy commissioner Diane McLeod says the investigation will examine whether the organization violated Alberta’s Personal Information Protection Act, commonly known as PIPA.
The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner says Centurion Project Ltd. was formally notified of the investigation on May 6.
The investigation follows allegations connected to the unauthorized use and publication of personal information belonging to millions of Alberta voters, including names, addresses, postal codes, phone numbers and unique elector identification numbers.
The commissioner says the investigation will initially focus on whether Centurion had legal authority to collect, use or disclose the information under provincial privacy law.
Investigators will also examine whether reasonable safeguards were in place to protect the data and whether the organization met any legal obligations to notify affected individuals about the alleged breach.
“Section 36(1)(a) of PIPA authorizes me to conduct an investigation on my own motion to ensure compliance with any provision of PIPA,” McLeod said in a statement.
“I have decided to exercise my authority to investigate these allegations.”
The commissioner says additional issues could be added to the investigation depending on evidence gathered during the process.
At the conclusion of the investigation, the commissioner’s office may issue findings, recommendations or formal compliance orders if violations are identified.
A public investigation report could also be released.
The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner operates independently from the Alberta government and oversees enforcement of provincial privacy and access-to-information laws.
The RCMP is separately investigating the broader alleged breach involving Alberta’s List of Electors and the Centurion Project.
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