OTTAWA (CP) -- Most Canadians feel a company should obtain consent before sending their personal information to a firm in another country, a newly released poll indicates.
The survey, conducted for the federal privacy watchdog, reveals a generally high level of concern about the flow of personal data to foreign governments.
''I think you see an increasing unease about personal information handling issues,'' said Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart.
Canadians have become more aware of the potential for their private data to go astray in an era of daily Internet surfing, online shopping and global computer networks, Stoddart said in an interview.
''We're talking about a vastly different world than even, I'd say, five or 10 years ago.''
Ekos Research Associates surveyed 1,010 Canadians aged 16 and older for the commissioner's office between March 17 and 30. The results are considered accurate to within 3.1 percentage points 19 times out of 20.
Eighty-four per cent of those surveyed agreed it was highly important that a person's permission be required before a company can transfer personal information on customers to a firm in another country.
Another 12 per cent said it was moderately important, while three per cent felt it was of low importance.
Seventy-five per cent of people polled said it was highly important that individuals be ''able to view and correct their personal information'' that the Canadian government transfers to other countries.
An additional 19 per cent said it was moderately important, and five per cent considered it of low importance.
Strong majorities also said it was either highly or moderately important to be notified if their personal information is transferred by:
- a Canadian airline to a foreign government when they fly to that country.
- a Canadian government agency to a foreign government in order to protect national security or to deliver programs and services like public pensions.
- a Canadian government agency to a company in the United States conducting business on their behalf.
Sixty-two per cent of those surveyed agreed with the notion that they have less personal privacy in their daily lives than they did 10 years ago.
Canadians are more concerned about privacy threats due to media coverage of issues including Internet security, incidents of stolen credit card data and identity theft, said privacy expert Tom Riley of Ottawa-based Riley Information Services.
''There is raised awareness about the nature of their own personal information and how it's used.''
The government said earlier this year it would revamp the wording of federal contracts to counter U.S. powers, granted under American anti-terrorism laws, to tap into personal information about Canadians.
The U.S.A. Patriot Act, passed following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, gave the FBI broader access to records held by firms in the United States, including data on Canadians.
Stoddart's office is also carrying out a study of information the federal Canada Border Services Agency shares with government agencies in the United States.
