Last Updated: 1 May 2025

This Privacy Policy explains the collection and use of personal data through websites, web applications and application programming interfaces (“websites”) maintained by the A2AJ. It also outlines the rights users have with respect to personal data that the A2AJ collects about them from our websites. The A2AJ respects the privacy of website visitors and will not sell or lease personal data collected from our websites or use it for a purpose that is different than what it was originally collected for.

Please note that this policy specifically addresses data collected from our websites. In addition to such data, we also collect and publish research and datasets involving Canada’s legal system. The research and datasets are based either on publicly available information obtained from government bodies or information obtained through data-sharing agreements with government bodies. Some of the data may include identifying information—such as the names of parties, decision-makers and legal counsel. Other data may include information that could, either on its own or in combination with other datasets, identify individuals.

We recognize that this research raises challenging questions about how to balance protecting privacy, enhancing government transparency, addressing information asymmetries, and building technologies that leverage data to advance access to justice.

More broadly, the A2AJ also recognizes that considerations around privacy and data protection are complex and evolving. When working with justice sector data and technology, we strive to foreground intersectional understandings of the systemic harms perpetuated against groups historically made marginalized. As our work at the A2AJ continues to expand, we will endeavor to keep this perspective front of mind.

Despite our best efforts, we recognize that we may not always get the balance between privacy and other considerations right. If you have comments or advice about how we might best achieve that balance please feel free to reach out to us at a2aj@yorku.ca. 

Websites

Websites maintained by the A2AJ may include forms where we gather information provided voluntarily by website visitors for various purposes, such as signing up for our listserv or applying for jobs. When such information is sought, we will endeavor to outline why we are gathering the information that we ask for and set out what we will do with the information.

Some websites maintained by the A2AJ use Google Analytics to help us better understand our traffic. Google Analytics uses first party cookies and collects data related to a user’s device, web browser, and IP address, which provides geolocation data.  It may take up to two years for cookies from Google Analytics to expire. We do not use any Google Analytics advertising features. You can find more details on how Google Analytics collects, uses, and safeguards data on its’ Safeguarding your data page. Website visitors can opt out of tracking through Google Analytics by installing a privacy browser extension such as Privacy Badger.

Some websites maintained by the A2AJ may use Cloudflare for security and optimization. Cloudflare collects information from visitors, including IP addresses and other data. Their privacy policy is available here.

External Links

Links on the A2AJ website may lead you to external sites that use cookies, tracking, and/or have their own privacy policy.  The A2AJ has no control over these websites.

Your Rights

The A2AJ’s collection, use, and retention of personal data is governed by Ontario’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Under the FIPPA, individuals have the right to access personal information collected about them, and to correct that personal information where there might be errors or omissions.  Individuals in Ontario also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario.

Please write to a2aj@yorku.ca if you would like to exercise your rights under the FIPPA.

Changes to this Policy

Changes to the policy will be clearly communicated to website visitors. The date that the policy was last updated is listed at the top of the policy.

Explanation of Changes

• 1 May 2025: Initial version