Data Ethics Protocols for Immigrant Serving Organizations and Newcomer Privacy Protection

Privacy is a fundamental human right as well as a recognized right in The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Yet, in a context of rapidly changing advanced digital technologies (ADTs), privacy protection can be quickly outdated, carrying consequences for both individuals and groups, as well as for human rights. This project seeks to better understand a series of questions concerning privacy and data security in the contexts of ADTs and immigration in Canada today.

1. What sorts of data are collected by immigrant serving organizations (ISOs), and what sorts of privacy and data security issues might they carry?
2. How do immigrants access ADTs and use ADTs? What do they think is going to happen to their data?
3. Are ADTs largely seen positively or negatively? How can they be improved to better serve immigrants?
4. To what extent are newcomers as well as staff at ISOs aware of privacy issues at stake with ADTs?

This work incorporates a mixed methods design involving document collection through document analysis and/or interviews with ISO staff in medium and large sized Canadian cities (Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Calgary, Vancouver), alongside survey research.

The project is ongoing, multiple outcomes are being produced. 

Expected completion date: September 2026

Past events and conferences:

• “Forging interpretation with generative AI”, presented by Geoffrey Rockwell, panel on “Generative AI, LLMs, and Knowledge Structures”, Canadian Federation of Humanities and Social Sciences – Congress 2025, Toronto, Canada, June 2025

• “Moral responsibility and artificial intelligence”, keynote presentation by Geoffrey Rockwell, Canada AI 2025, Calgary, Canada, May 2025

• “Empowering minds: Navigating the future with AI literacy”, fireside chat co-presented by Geoffrey Rockwell, UpperBound 2025, Edmonton, Canada, May 2025

• “Why should AI be safe and responsible?”, keynote presentation by Geoffrey Rockwell, Philosophy Graduate Student Group Conference on Philosophical Issues in Artificial Intelligence, Edmonton, Canada, May 2025

• “Using large language models to develop a web site”, workshop led by Geoffrey Rockwell, Re-Sounding Poetries Conference, Kelowna, Canada, May 2025

• “Case studies in AI ethics”, workshop led by Geoffrey Rockwell, Edmonton Public School Board Student AI Conference, Edmonton, Canada, April 2025

• “What is responsible about responsible AI”, institute lecture by Geoffrey Rockwell, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, India, February 2025

• “Responsible AI and digital humanities”, keynote presentation by Geoffrey Rockwell, Digital Humanities and AI: Intersections, Innovations, and Implications Conference, Dhanbad, India, January 2025.

ADTs; Advanced digital technologies; data ethics; immigration; privacy protection