The Access My Info (AMI) tool is a web application that helps people to create justified requests for copies of their personal information from service providers. AMI is a step-by-step wizard that results in the generation of a personalized formal letter requesting access to the information a provider stores and utilizes about a person. The letter can be saved as a PDF, printed, and mailed through the post, or where available, directly emailed to a company’s privacy officer. The infographic below outlines the process by which a customer of a Canadian telecommunications service provider can use AMI to help them put together a legal request for access to the personal data the company holds on them.
While AMI may be extended to generate request letters to any commercial data operator, we have launched the tool focusing on a specific domain, Canadian telecoms. The reason for doing so is the positive impact AMI may have on current legal and policy debates surrounding those companies’ disclosures of subscriber personal information to government. DSI’s outreach partner for the launch of this tool is digital advocacy group Open Media. To find out about the rationale behind AMI, its placement in the context of current Canadian privacy issues, and the intended benefits of the tool, see AMI co-creator Dr. Christopher Parsons’ blog post. To learn about how AMI works technically, have a look at its source code, and get involved in the continuing development of this open source tool, check out AMI software developer Andrew Hilts’ blog post. To actually use AMI, please visit Open Media’s implementation of the tool.