Backgrounder: Timeline of events related to the investigation of Google and de-listing of online information
2017
Complaint filed with OPC alleging that articles returned as results in Google searches for the complainant’s name caused personal harm. An investigation was launched.
2018
January – OPC released a draft Position Paper on Online Reputation.
March – In the course of the OPC investigation, Google took the position that its search engine is exempt from PIPEDA, such that the OPC does not have jurisdiction.
October – The OPC asked the Federal Court of Canada to determine whether PIPEDA applies to Google’s search engine service. It also asked whether Google’s search engine is exempt from PIPEDA on the basis that it operates its search engine for journalistic purposes.
2021
January – The Federal Court heard the reference questions.
July – The court found that Google is subject to PIPEDA and that it does not operate its search engine service for an exclusively journalistic purpose.
September - Google filed a notice of appeal to Federal Court of Appeal.
2022
October – Federal Court of Appeal hearing.
2023
September – Federal Court of Appeal upheld the lower court’s decision that Google’s search engine service is subject to federal privacy laws, and that Google cannot rely on the journalistic exception in PIPEDA.
2025
OPC made its findings public on August 27, 2025.
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