Complete compliance guide for Canadian businesses. Learn what you need to know about PIPEDA cookie consent requirements, implementation, and best practices.
Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act - Canada's federal privacy law
Core principles that guide PIPEDA compliance for cookies and personal information
Organizations are responsible for personal information under their control and must designate someone accountable for compliance.
Organizations must identify the purposes for collecting personal information before or at the time of collection.
Knowledge and consent of the individual are required for the collection, use, or disclosure of personal information.
Organizations must limit collection to what is necessary for the identified purposes and collect it fairly and lawfully.
Personal information must not be used or disclosed for purposes other than those for which it was collected, except with consent or as required by law.
Personal information must be as accurate, complete, and up-to-date as necessary for the purposes for which it is to be used.
Organizations must protect personal information against loss or theft, as well as unauthorized access, disclosure, copying, use, or modification.
Organizations must make readily available to individuals specific information about their policies and practices relating to the management of personal information.
Upon request, an individual must be informed of the existence, use, and disclosure of their personal information and be given access to that information.
An individual must be able to challenge an organization's compliance with these principles and have the matter addressed by the organization.
Some provinces have their own privacy legislation that may be more stringent than PIPEDA
Understanding what's required for cookie compliance under Canadian law
Under PIPEDA, you must provide clear notice about cookie collection:
PIPEDA requires that users can opt-out of cookie collection:
Your privacy policy must include specific cookie information:
Step-by-step guide to implementing PIPEDA-compliant cookie consent
Conduct a comprehensive audit of all cookies on your website:
Implement clear notice about cookie collection:
Set up appropriate consent mechanisms:
Maintain ongoing compliance:
Understanding the consequences of non-compliance
Up to $100,000 CAD
For violations of PIPEDA
Significant
Public naming, media coverage
High
Compliance orders, court proceedings
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