The Ontario government will require insurers to include locking technology in digital insurance cards to be rolled out over the next year.
That locking feature could be automatic or something the policy holder has to activate by changing settings on their phone.
The government says the lock screen capability is important and necessary “to ensure policyholders can reduce the risk of privacy intrusions when other persons are viewing their insurance card”.
NEWSTALK 1010 has heard from listeners wary of passing their phones to a police officer when asked for their proof of insurance. They have expressed fear an officer meant then peek at their texts, emails, photos and internet searches.
NEWSTALK 1010 legal analyst Ed Prutchi says an officer performing a traffic stop would be legally able to access other information on a phone beyond the insurance card.