Incident Summary #10: Cable provider removes personal information posted online of customers with overdue accounts
The OPC investigated a complaint concerning a cable provider that posted a list of customers with overdue accounts on a public Facebook page. The provider believed this was permissible, citing municipal practices of publishing names of those in property tax arrears. The OPC clarified that while PIPEDA permits disclosure of information for debt collection purposes to third parties, it does not authorize public dissemination without consent.
- Public dissemination of personal information for debt collection
- Application of PIPEDA's debt collection exemption
- Comparison of debt collection practices with municipal tax arrears publications
The cable provider removed the posting of customer information from the Facebook page.
The cable provider removed the posting after the OPC explained that PIPEDA does not permit public dissemination of debtor information without consent, even for debt collection purposes.
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The cable provider removed the posting of customer information from the Facebook page.
- paragraph 7(3)(b) PIPEDA
This summary is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.