PIPEDA Report of Findings #2017-009: Airline relies on access exemption to refuse traveler’s access to their personal information

A traveler complained that an airline did not provide complete access to his personal information, specifically documents and correspondence related to being denied boarding. The airline relied on exemptions under PIPEDA, arguing that the information was collected to investigate a potential breach of agreement or contravention of law and was disclosed to a government institution for law enforcement purposes. The OPC found that both the collection and disclosure were reasonable under the Act's exemptions, and the airline properly followed the process when a government institution objected to disclosure of the information.

• Whether the collection of personal information without consent was justified under PIPEDA's exemptions.
• Whether the disclosure of personal information to a government institution was justified under PIPEDA's exemptions.
• Whether the airline properly handled the access request when a government institution objected to disclosure.