Public Commission on Foreign Interference – Website Privacy Statement
This privacy statement is intended to advise you of the collection and use of personal information in connection with the operation of the Commission on Foreign Interference website. Information that is collected by the Commission by other means, including hearings, roundtables and other public meetings, is not subject to this privacy statement.
Authority to collect, use and/or disclose personal information
The Commission on Foreign Interference has a mandate to carry out a public inquiry, in accordance with Part I of the Inquiries Act. In connection with that mandate, the Commission may collect, use and/or disclose information that it considers necessary or desirable to carry out that mandate, including personal information. Information collected by the Commission via this website or otherwise is for such purposes.
For more information on the Commission on Foreign Interference’s mandate, please see Order in Council 2023-0882
Your Privacy and the Internet
Specific personal information, such as your name, phone number or email address, is not automatically gathered on this website. The Commission on Foreign Interference would only obtain this type of information if you supply it directly to the Commission, via email or otherwise.
If you choose to send an email to the Commission on Foreign Interference, your personal information may be used in order to respond to your inquiry. The Commission does not use the information to create individual profiles though it may create lists or records of witnesses or potential witnesses.
The nature of the Internet is such that Web servers automatically collect certain information about a visit to a website, including the visitor's Internet Protocol (IP) address. IP addresses are unique numbers assigned by Internet Service Providers (ISP) to all devices used to access the Internet. Web servers automatically log the IP addresses of visitors to their sites. The IP address, on its own, does not identify an individual. However, in certain circumstances, such as with the co-operation of an ISP for example, it could be used to identify an individual using the site. For this reason, the Commission on Foreign Interference considers the IP address to be personal information, particularly when combined with other data automatically collected when a visitor requests a Web page such as the page or pages visited, date and time of the visit. Such information will only be used to carry out the mandate of the Commission.
Public Comments and Submissions
The Commission on Foreign Interference may use this website to collect public comments and submissions about the subject matter of its work. If you choose to use this website to submit a comment or submission, your submission may be shared publicly, including in the Commission’s final report. The Commission on Foreign Interference will collect personal information about individuals who provide public comments and submissions. You may request that references to your public comments or submissions that are referred to in the Commission’s final report not disclose personal information about you.
Third-Party Social Media
The Commission on Foreign Interference’s use of social media serves as an extension of its presence on the Web. Social media account(s) are public and are not hosted on the Commission’s servers. Users who choose to interact with the Commission via social media should read the terms of service and privacy policies of these third-party service providers and those of any applications used to access them.
Improving your Experience on this Website
Digital Markers (including cookies)
A digital marker is a resource created by the visitors' browser in order to remember certain pieces of information for the Web server to reference during the same or subsequent visit to the website. Examples of digital markers are "cookies" or HTML5 web storage. Some examples of what digital markers do are as follows:
- they allow a website to recognize a visitor who has previously accessed the site;
- they track what content is viewed on a site which helps website administrators ensure visitors find what they are looking for.
The Commission on Foreign Interference website uses sessional and persistent digital markers on its website. During your on-line visit, your browser exchanges data with the Commission’s Web server. The digital markers used do not allow the Commission’s website to identify individuals and do not contain personal information.
You may adjust your browser settings to reject digital markers, including cookies, if you so choose. However, it may affect your ability to interact with the Commission’s website.
Web Analytics
Web analytics is the collection, analysis, measurement, and reporting of data about Web traffic and visits for purposes of understanding and optimizing Web usage. Information in digital markers may be used in conjunction with computer request data to identify and track your online interactions with the Commission on Foreign Interference website.
The Commission uses Google Analytics and log file analysis to improve the website experience. When your computer requests a Web page, the following types of information are collected and used for Web analytics:
- the originating IP address
- the date and time of the request
- the type of browser used
- the page(s) visited
- referral website
If you wish, you may opt out of being tracked by Google Analytics by disabling or refusing the cookies; by disabling JavaScript within your browser; or by using the Google Analytics Opt-Out Browser Add-On. Disabling Google Analytics or JavaScript will still permit you to access comparable information or services from our websites. However, if you disable your session cookie option, you will still be able to access our public website, but you might have difficulties accessing any secure services (if available).
Data collected for Web analytics purposes goes outside of Canada to Google servers and may be processed in any country where Google operates servers. Data may be subject to the governing legislation of that country. For further information about Google Analytics, please refer to the Google Analytics terms of service.
Records of the Commission
At the conclusion of its work, the Commission on Foreign Interference is required to file its records with the Clerk of the Privy Council. Some records from the Commission may also be submitted to Library and Archives Canada. Personal information provided to the Commission on Foreign Interference through its website, including through email, could form part of the Commission’s records that will be filed with these government institutions.
Any personal information that is provided to these government institutions at the conclusion of the Commission’s work will be subject to the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act.
Inquiries about this Privacy Statement
Should you have any questions or concerns regarding this information or the privacy practices of the Commission on Foreign Interference, please contact us by emailing Info@pifi-epie.gc.ca