mylife

What is personal information?

Personal information is information about you. It can be your name, address, phone number. It can also be the place you go to school, the things you buy when you’re shopping, the web sites you visit, the songs you download. (If you are interested, you will find an official definition of personal information here. Be warned – the site the link takes you to was not written with you in mind!)

Why is managing my personal information important?

Everyday, you give out personal information – whether you use a debit card to buy something, send an e-mail, participate in an online chat or use a key-card to enter a gym.

But have you ever thought about who you are giving your personal information to and what they will use it for?

Although most of the personal information stored about you will make it easier for you to communicate with others and to access information and entertainment, it can also be used in harmful ways. You might receive electronic ads in your e-mail inbox that are addressed to you personally and are tailored specifically to your interests. You might have an employer or coach check out your profile on a social networking site, like Facebook, and see a photo you might not have wanted that person to see. In a worst-case scenario, criminals can find out and use your personal details to steal your identity and open bank accounts and credit cards in your name.

So, what should I do about this?

Fortunately, there are lots of things you can do to protect your personal information. The first step is understanding the laws that are in place to protect your privacy – those are covered on this page. Then you can develop an understanding of how the choices you make everyday about what information you share affects your privacy – you can find this in the section called My Choice.

What is PIPEDA?

The Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) is Canada’s private sector privacy law. This law sets rules for how organizations can collect, use or disclose information about you while conducting commercial activities. In this case, organizations means those places that you exchange money with – like grocery stores and music stores. They do not include places like police departments and school boards. (If you want to find out how you are protected from places who don’t exchange money with you, like school boards, etc., just call us at 1-800-282-1376 and we’ll direct you to the right place.)

PIPEDA also gives you the right to see and ask for corrections to personal information that an organization may have collected about you. This personal information can include everything from your name and age to your medical records, purchases and spending habits, to your blood type, DNA code and fingerprints. If you work for an organization it doesn’t include your name, job title, business address or office telephone number.

How does PIPEDA protect my personal information?

Your ability to control your personal information is key to your right to privacy. PIPEDA gives you control over your personal information by requiring organizations to get your consent before collecting, using or disclosing information about you. This law gives you a number of rights, including the right to know why an organization is collecting, using or disclosing your personal information; the right to expect organizations to collect, use or disclose your personal information reasonably and appropriately; and the right to expect an organization to protect your personal information by taking appropriate security measures.

What can I do if my information has been compromised?

If you think an organization is not following a provision of PIPEDA you have the right to make a complaint. You can contact the Privacy Commissioner of Canada at 1-800-282-1376 for more information or advice on how to make a complaint. Please do not make complaints or provide personal information by e-mail, as security cannot be ensured.

You can find more information on PIPEDA here: Guide for Individuals