Details
| Opportunity Name | Contributions Program |
| Agency | Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada |
| Value | Up to $100,000 per single project (Maximum $200,000 per recipient organization) |
| Indirect Costs | Eligible at 15% |
| Duration | 1 year (April 1, 2024 – March 31, 2025) |
Deadlines
| Application due to FSc RO at sciapps@yorku.ca for full review | 02-06-2024 |
| Application and fully signed ORS checklist due to FSc RO at sciapps@yorku.ca for mandatory review | 02-13-2024 |
| Final application and fully signed ORS checklist due at ORS for mandatory review | 02-16-2024, by 9:00AM |
| Application due at agency | 02-21-2024, by 11:59PM |
Objective
- Strengthen existing privacy research capacity in academic and not-for-profit sectors;
- Generate new knowledge and support the development of expertise in selected areas of privacy and data protection;
- Increase awareness and understanding among individuals and organizations across Canada of their privacy rights and obligations; and,
- Promote uptake and application of research results by relevant stakeholders.
Only research or public awareness proposals that address issues in the private sector will be considered. Proposals that touch on issues falling within the federal public sector can be submitted, provided that the primary focus of the proposals deals with the private sector.
This year the OPC is interested in funding proposals based on the following OPC’s strategic themes:
- Addressing the privacy impacts of new technologies such as artificial intelligence and generative AI
Some potential questions that could be avenues of research or public outreach include:
- How can individuals’ rights of access, rectification and erasure of personal information be supported in generative AI systems?
- What role can privacy-enhancing technologies play in the development of generative AI systems?
- What are best practices for fairness, accountability, and transparency of AI systems?
- How can organizations meaningfully engage with groups impacted by emerging technologies in advance of deployment?
- How can emerging techniques for de-identification and anonymization help to address some of the pressing challenges facing privacy today and in the future?
- What other emerging technologies are on the horizon, and what challenges do they pose for privacy? How can policymakers and organizations prepare for these challenges?
- Ensuring that children’s privacy is protected, and young people are able to exercise their privacy rights
Some potential questions that could be avenues of research or public outreach include:
- How can we help children and young people fully participate in the online world while effectively ensuring their privacy is protected?
- How should the concept of the best interests of the child be interpreted to promote online privacy in commercial settings?
- How can organizations best ensure that consent from young people or their parents is meaningful?
- What are privacy protective methods for conducting age assurance?
- How do children value and view the importance of protecting their online privacy in a commercial context?
- How do cultural differences and varied attitudes about children’s privacy shape online experiences?
Note: The OPC do not wish to limit the projects submitted to this theme only, and will also accept proposals for research and educational projects that address cutting-edge issues that advance the protection of privacy in the private sector. Applicants are encouraged to include an intersectional analysis in their projects, and to incorporate potential strategies to help reduce inequalities.
Eligibility
Only not-for-profit organizations – including consumer, voluntary and advocacy organizations, educational institutions, and industry & trade associations – are eligible for funding.
How to Apply
York University researchers are reminded that all applications for external research funding, including Letters of Intent, must be reviewed and approved by the Office of Research Services before they are submitted to the granting agency. For internal approval, the application must be accompanied by a completed ORS Checklist, which requires the Dean’s signature. Please send the complete application, with the finalized budget and a completed ORS checklist to sciapps@yorku.ca, five days prior to agency deadline.
ORS is accepting electronic applications – the process is outlined here.