Reaching for the Cloud(s) - Privacy Issues related to Cloud Computing - March 2010

Aug 20, 2026

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Cloud computing describes an infrastructure model in which information and applications are stored online and accessed through user devices, effectively turning personal computers into “dumb terminals” that interact with a cloud mainframe for storage, retrieval, and manipulation. The report examines privacy implications, emphasizing concerns such as perceived jurisdictional neutrality, reduced consumer control, weakened meaningful consent tied to advertising, function creep, and innovation dampening. It further analyzes specific privacy risks including data intrusion, lawful access, processing misuse, data permanence, and ownership, concluding with jurisdictional considerations and related principles.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages16

Reading Time40 min

AccessFree to download

Executive Summary

Review of Cloud Computing

What is Cloud Computing?

Overview of the Cloud

Overarching Problems with Cloud Computing

Privacy Risks of Cloud Computing

Jurisdiction and Legal Considerations

Creation of New Datastreams

Security and Data Intrusion

Lawful Access and Processing

Processing Misuse and Data Permanence

Ownership of Data

Reach of the Office of the Privacy Commissioner

OPC-specific Jurisprudence

Canadian Jurisprudence on Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction on the Internet

Conclusion

Reaching for the Cloud(s): Privacy Issues related to Cloud Computing March 2010 Table of Contents Executive Summary............................................................................................................................................. 1 Review of Cloud Computing ............................................................................................................................... 2 What is Cloud Computing? ............................................................................................................................. 2 Overview of the Cloud .................................................................................................................................... 2 Overarching Problems with Cloud Computing ............................................................................................... 3 Seeming Jurisdictional Neutrality ............................................................................................................... 3 Consumer Lack of Control........................................................................................................................... 4 Compromising Meaningful Consent ........................................................................................................... 4 Function Creep............................................................................................................................................ 4 Innovation Dampening ............................................................................................................................... 4 Privacy Risks of Cloud Computing ................................................................................................................... 5 Jurisdiction .................................................................................................................................................. 5 Creation of New Datastreams..................................................................................................................... 5 Security ....................................................................................................................................................... 5 Data Intrusion ............................................................................................................................................. 6 Lawful Access .............................................................................................................................................. 6 Processing ................................................................................................................................................... 6 Misuse of Processing Data .......................................................................................................................... 6 Permanence of Data ................................................................................................................................... 7 Ownership of Data ...................................................................................................................................... 7 Reach of the Office of the Privacy Commissioner .............................................................................................. 7 Processing ....................................................................................................................................................... 7 Direct cloud relationship................................................................................................................................. 8 OPC-specific Jurisprudence ............................................................................................................................. 8 Accusearch .........................................................................................................................................

FAQs

What is cloud computing and how does it change how data is accessed?

Cloud computing stores information and/or applications online, letting users access them via devices. In this model, personal computers act like “dumb terminals” interacting with a cloud mainframe to store, retrieve, or manipulate data.

What major privacy-related problems does the report highlight?

The report highlights perceived jurisdictional neutrality, consumer lack of control, compromised meaningful consent to advertising, function creep, and innovation dampening. It frames these as overarching concerns raised by the cloud computing model.

Which privacy risks and data-control issues are discussed in more detail?

It discusses privacy risks including jurisdiction, creation of new datastreams, security, data intrusion, lawful access, processing, misuse of processing data, data permanence, and ownership of data.

Aug 20, 2026

Upload by Ezra