Skip to content

Ontario to step up efforts to protect students' data

2024050910054-a48c9adf80cfd5256c7db81a76d3c590938aeac7e9a98d3a85a3d0607f798d9f
Ontario says it will bring forward legislation to protect students' data. A person uses a cell phone in Ottawa on Monday, July 18, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

TORONTO — Ontario says it will bring forward legislation to protect students' data.

The province says it wants to better safeguard children's information and prevent it from being stolen in cyber incidents.

Public and Business Service Delivery Minister Todd McCarthy says future regulations could include software standards to avoid student data being used by predatory marketing companies.

McCarthy says studies show the majority of digital programs for very young children collect identifying data and share it with third parties.

The province will consult with social media and tech experts, school boards and parents as it figures out how to best protect students.

The province recently announced cell phones would be banned in schools during instructional time and plans to remove social media from school networks and devices.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 9, 2024.

The Canadian Press

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks