New Research by Dr. Louai Rahal Explores Privacy, Social Media, and the Workplace
As social media continues to shape the workplace, questions around employee privacy and the collection of personal information are becoming increasingly important. In a new publication, Dr. Louai Rahal, FDU Vancouver’s Program Coordinator for the Master of Administrative Studies (MAS), examines how employers can navigate these issues within Canadian privacy law.
Employee Privacy Rights on Social Media in Canadian Law
Dr. Rahal’s research, titled Employees’ Privacy Rights on Social Media: A Canadian Legal Perspective, focuses on the legal permissibility of monitoring and collecting personal information from employees’ social media accounts. The study brings together three key sources: Canadian privacy legislation, guidance issued by Canadian privacy commissioners, and investigations involving organizations that collected personal information through social media.
Navigating Employee Privacy Rights on Social Media in the Workplace
Based on this analysis, the publication identifies four key factors employers should consider before collecting employee information online: whether the information is connected to an organizational activity, whether collecting it is necessary for that activity, whether the purpose is reasonable, and whether valid consent has been obtained.
The research also looks beyond the Canadian context by applying privacy principles developed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). This broader perspective allows the study to offer practical guidance that may also be relevant to organizations operating internationally.
For employers, the research provides a clear framework for navigating the balance between access to publicly available information and employees’ privacy rights. It also reflects the growing importance of privacy, ethics, and responsible decision-making as organizations adapt to changing technologies and digital workplace practices.
Bridging Academic Research and Professional Practice
The publication aligns closely with Dr. Rahal’s interdisciplinary expertise in public administration, ethics, law, education, and digital technologies. These areas are also relevant to the MAS program at FDU Vancouver, where students engage with contemporary issues affecting organizations, leadership, policy, and administration.
Dr. Rahal’s work reflects FDU Vancouver’s broader commitment to connecting academic research with real-world challenges. By examining issues at the intersection of technology, law, ethics, and organizational practice, faculty research contributes to conversations that are increasingly important for employers, professionals, and communities in Canada and beyond.