Ontario’s information and privacy commissioner has ruled that the expenses of a university law professor are protected by the principle of academic freedom. Ann Cavoukian upheld the University of Ottawa’s decision to withhold the research-related expense records of Amir Attaran, associate professor in law, which had been requested by an unnamed individual. The Ottawa Citizen reported that the same individual had filed a series of requests for information relating to Professor Attaran, a high-profile critic of the Canadian government’s Afghan-detainee policy. Justifying her decision, Ms Cavoukian said that academic freedom ensures that universities can conduct research without interference from a disapproving government or public.
Source Times Higher Education http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=26&storycode=420311&c=1