Online portal allows Canadians to see how their data is used.

• Position: PRIVACY

Canadians now have an online tool that enables them to discover the data that is out there about them, whether that information is shared, and, if so, with whom. The Citizen Lab and Open Effect recently launched an updated version of its online portal, Access My Info (www.accessmyinfo.org). Users can visit the portal, select the service or organization they want information from, and fill in their account details. Access My Info will generate a PDF with a detailed list of questions that can be sent to the service provider, CBC News reported. Canadian privacy laws require organizations to comply with these requests or risk fines.

While researching for the portal, Access My Info creators Christopher Parsons and Andrew Hilts found that many Canadians entrust their information to third parties, but few exercise their legal right to find out what those third parties do with that information, CBC News said.

Concerned that Internet users were giving up personal data with no understanding of how it was being used by companies and governments who are not held accountable, Parsons and Hilts said they hope Access My Info will encourage users to exercise more control over their data.

According to CBC News, the first...