Language selection

Search

Privacy and artificial intelligence: Protecting health information in a new era

Organization

University of Alberta

Published

2021

Project Leader(s)

Timothy Caulfield

Summary

Artificial intelligence (AI) applications are increasingly being developed and implemented in healthcare. This presents privacy issues since many AI applications are privately owned and rely on public-private partnerships and data sharing arrangements for mass quantities of patient health information.

This research investigated the Canadian legal and policy framework focusing on two issues. First, the potential for inappropriate treatment, use or disclosure of personal health information by private AI companies. And second, the potential for privacy breaches that use newly developed AI methods to reidentify patient health information.

The researchers analyzed Canadian legislation, focusing on the federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, as well as applicable common law relating to torts and fiduciary obligation and key Canadian research ethics policy, namely the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans. The research report contains a number of key findings and recommendations.

Project deliverables are available in the following language(s)

English

OPC Funded Project

This project received funding support through the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada’s Contributions Program. The opinions expressed in the summary and report(s) are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada. Summaries have been provided by the project authors. Please note that the projects appear in their language of origin.

Contact Information

Timothy Caulfield
Health Law Institute
Office 470, Faculty of Law
University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H5
Email: caulfield@ualberta.ca
Telephone: (780) 492-8358

Date modified: