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For individuals

How your personal information is collected and used by businesses and by government institutions in Canada is governed by privacy laws.

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) is responsible for overseeing two federal privacy laws:

However, even with rules in place to protect that information, a great defence against a wide range of privacy risks is knowing your rights and making choices about what personal information you share, with whom, and for what purpose.

Explore the links on this page to find out about privacy rights and protections in Canada, and how to protect your personal information.

Your privacy rights

Interacting with businesses and government

Privacy and kids

Tips for parents, teachers and businesses

Reporting concerns and filing complaints

Raising concerns, filing complaints, reporting breaches, spam

Accessing your personal information

Requests to businesses and federal government, obligations for organizations

Receiving a privacy breach notification

Breaches of business security, personal information, notification, protecting your accounts, who to contact

Which privacy law applies?

Interactive search based on type of information and organization

Online services

Protecting your information, identity theft, social networks

Mobile devices

Protecting information, passwords, game consoles, wearables

Beware of deceptive design

Key takeaways to help individuals identify deceptive design patterns and avoid sharing personal information unnecessarily

Landlords and tenants

Tenant rights, information collection, landlord obligations

Employers and employees

Employers, human resources (HR), work devices, online services

Protecting your driver’s licence

Requests from stores, applicable laws

Protecting your Social Insurance Number

Appropriate use of SIN, risks, protecting your SIN, infographic

Crossing the border

Canadian and international customs, searching devices, security screening

Identity theft

Common threats, prevention tips

Reading privacy policies

What to look for, privacy principles, raising concerns

Health, genetic and other body information

Genetic testing, biometrics, health privacy, health emergencies

Resources for seniors

Privacy awareness with seniors

See all topics

Frequently asked questions

This list highlights advice and information on issues individuals frequently ask about when they contact us.

How do I get the personal information an organization has about me?

Canada’s two federal privacy law oblige federal government institutions and many businesses to give people a right to access their personal information. See our page about accessing your personal information held by others for tips.

Can businesses ask for my driver’s license or social insurance number?

Identity information like this is sensitive and should only be collected if absolutely necessary. See our guidance for individuals about protecting driver’s licences and Social insurance numbers.

What should I do if I am unhappy with how an organization is handling my personal information?

We typically encourage individuals to first try to work out privacy issues with the organization that is handling the personal information. For help with this, take a look at our tips on  raising a privacy concern with an organization. If you are unable to resolve your issue, you can report a concern to our Office.

What can I do to protect myself against identity theft?

When you are asked to provide personal information, ask why it is needed, how it will be used, with whom it may be shared and how it will be safeguarded. Read our guide: Identity Theft and You for more helpful tips and information about what to do if you think you may be a victim of identity theft.

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