Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)

The Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) is Canada’s main federal law that seeks to protect users’ privacy rights. PIPEDA governs how private-sector organizations collect, use, and disclose personal information during commercial operations.

Companies that fall under the provisions of PIPEDA must comply with the following requirements:

  • Appoint a chief privacy officer (CPO) responsible for your company’s compliance with the regulation.
  • Maintain personal information policies that are clear, understandable, and readily available with the types of data you collect, the third parties you share it with, and any potential risks for the individual.
  • Obtain an individual’s consent to collect, use or disclose personal information. However, note that PIPEDA’s consent rules aren’t as restrictive as those in the GDPR.
  • Only collect the personal information needed to satisfy the specified processing purposes.
  • Supply an individual with a product or a service even if they refuse consent unless the information is essential to the transaction.
  • Ensure the collected and maintained personal data is accurate, complete and up-to-date. Allow the individual to review the correctness and completeness of the data.
  • Protect personal information using security measures proportional to the sensitivity of the data.
  • In the case of a personal information breach, report it to the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, notify the affected individuals, and keep a record of the breach.

Lately, the Canadian authorities have taken steps to make their law better aligned with data protection regulations worldwide. Canada has proposed new bills to reform the privacy law and enact the Consumer Privacy Protection Act (CPPA).

Learn more about PIPEDA and CPPA:

PIPEDA & CPPA: How the Canadian privacy laws impact your analytics [Updated]


  • A review of HIPAA-compliant analytics platforms

    As a healthcare organization subject to HIPAA, you’re walking a fine line when trying to improve the patient experience and ensure your activities are HIPAA-compliant. Vendors have been adjusting to the shifting privacy-oriented analytics landscape and their clients’ expectations. Many of them change their offers accordingly. At the same time, the dominant analytics vendors are…

  • Piwik PRO expands global hosting options with new data center in the UAE

    Piwik PRO remains committed to delivering flexible, secure, and regionally focused hosting solutions for businesses around the world. We’re pleased to announce the launch of our new data center in the UAE North, hosted on Microsoft Azure. This latest addition complements our existing location in Hong Kong, expanding our global hosting footprint and offering organizations…