I certainly think some of the reasons there is interest in this issue have to do with the explosion or proliferation of technology and social media. You can't pick up the papers without hearing about sexting, cyber-bullying, or information that has been posted that you can never get rid of, but is out there. I think some of that contributes to public awareness: the Internet generally, social media sites, and the amount of information that is out there.
Of course, what has gone along with that is the rise of some of websites in particular. In the office we've seen examples of websites where ex-girlfriends or ex-boyfriends can post information about somebody, and it doesn't necessarily have to be accurate, but it's out there, and they're concerned that it's out there. They're concerned that it will be out there forever and that they will never be able to get rid of it. They're concerned that it will affect their ability to hold a job or get a job, so I think there can be real ramifications.
What is the balance? I mentioned in my opening comments some of the concerns around privacy and freedom of expression. We had a matter under Alberta's PIPA that went to the Supreme Court that was balancing just that. The court found in favour of freedom of expression with respect some political information that a union might post. I think all of these issues in this conversation, this technology, and use of social media sites are pushing discussion about it. So I think we will have to be talking about and dealing with them. Court decisions are also furthering that conversation.
As for finding the balance, I think there is a really important role that regulators have to play, that I, as a regulator, have to play, and that the rest of us who are appearing before you today have to play, as information and privacy commissioners, in being able to balance that. Frequently, under freedom of information legislation—which is access to information and protection of privacy legislation—we are trying to balance privacy with the public interest and the right to access information.
There is often a tension that needs to be resolved. I think we have some experience in that as information and privacy regulators. I often don't hear that as part of the conversation around the right to be forgotten. It's often more of a question of whether there are charter issues and how the courts will resolve this, but I do think that there's potentially a role for information and privacy commissioners.
Does that answer your question?