Ontario’s Court System Fails to Protect Sensitive Information

I am speaking out about a serious privacy concern in Ontario’s court systems that leaves  victims of violence and personal trauma vulnerable.

In Ontario, specifically Kingston Ontario, court records containing highly sensitive personal information, including those related to domestic violence cases, can be accessed by anyone, with no accountability or record of who has viewed them. Additionally, youth records, which are sealed, also have no access logs. There are NO access logs or audit trails maintained for who views or retrieves these sensitive records, which violates the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA).

MFIPPA requires institutions to safeguard personal information and prevent unauthorized use or disclosure, which the court system is clearly failing to do. This lack of oversight means private, personal details are at risk of being exposed or misused, with no way for individuals to know who has accessed their files.

From my own experience, I’ve learned firsthand how this lack of protection can be exploited. As someone who was a victim in both a domestic violence case and a youth sexual assault case, I was shocked to learn that my court files could be accessed freely by anyone, including lawyers and members of the public, with no record of who viewed it.

In my situation, sensitive details about my personal life were accessed by lawyers and later used to harass and humiliate me at my workplace (the courthouse). Despite this, there was no way to trace who accessed my file, and no logs were maintained to hold anyone accountable. This not only violated my privacy but also left me vulnerable to further trauma and retaliation.

This lack of oversight has real consequences. The system’s current policies essentially enable misconduct and leave survivors exposed to further harm. Ontario’s court system should be a place where individuals can trust their personal information will be protected, not exposed for misuse. The absence of protections around access to court files is a systemic failure that compromises the privacy and safety of those who need it most.

By sharing my experience, I hope to raise awareness and encourage change, so that no one else has to go through what I did. We must hold institutions accountable for how they handle private, personal data, and ensure that the court system upholds its responsibility to protect those it serves.