2016–17 Project Summaries: Public Interest Advocacy Centre

Public Interest Advocacy Centre
1 Nicholas Street, Suite 1204
Ottawa, ON K1N 7B7
Tel.: (613) 562-4002
Fax: (613) 562-0007

Managing legal risk in the Canadian retail payment system: the consumer's perspective

The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) will examine the ongoing consultation process for a new regulatory framework for the Canadian retail payment system. Their study, which will analyze legal risks in this system and propose a conceptual framework to mitigate these risks, will be based on best regulatory practices in other jurisdictions. To better address the concerns and interests of consumers, PIAC's findings will help fill a significant gap in the current understanding, by Government and stakeholders, of legal risk in Canada's retail payment system.

The Privacy Box: Enabling Consumer Choice and Meaningful Consent in Online Privacy

The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) will research the consumer attitude toward online services and ability to protect their privacy. Their study will focus on consumer privacy concerns and needs regarding the ways online services collect, use and disclose consumers' personal data. PIAC will then recommend a model—or a "privacy box"—for online platforms, which would allow consumers to modify the key privacy settings to suit their needs. The research will thus propose practical ways to ensure consumers can easily safeguard their online privacy.