A privacy audit of Canada's passport offices has found deficiencies in protecting the personal information of passport applicants and holders.
"At the front end, passport applications and supporting documents were kept in clear plastic bags on open shelves. At the back end, documents containing personal information, including credit-card numbers, and, sometimes, social insurance numbers, were tossed into regular garbage and recycling bins."
Passport offices putting personal info at risk, privacy audit finds
It's this type of behaviour that basically leaves the door open for identity theft. It's even more remarkable given the significant tightening of border control and passports over the past few years due to terrorism threats.
