Ontario's Information and Privacy Commissioner has issued new guidance on the use of personal email and instant messaging for business purposes.
Arising from a recent order to the City of Oshawa regarding a Councillor's use of personal email for public business, the guidance is intended to alert public institutions to the fact that email and text messages pertaining to institutional business--even if sent or received using a personal account--are subject to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and are potentially disclosable in response to a FIPPA request. Additionally, such records should be retained in an institutional recordkeeping system.
Click here for more information on: Instant Messaging and Personal Email Accounts