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 failed to provide complete access to his personal information, specifically documents and correspondence related to being denied boarding in 2015. The airline invoked exemptions under PIPEDA, arguing the information was collected to investigate a breach of agreement or contravention of law (s.7(1)(b)) and disclosed to a government institution for law enforcement purposes (s.7(3)(c.1)(ii)). The OPC found that the collection without consent was justified under s.7(1)(b) because it was for investigating potential non-compliance with the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, and that requiring consent would have compromised the investigation. The OPC also found the disclosure to a government institution was permissible under s.7(3)(c.1)(ii). Furthermore, the OPC determined that the airline was prohibited from providing access to the requested information under s.9(2.4) because the government institution objected to its release. Therefore, the OPC concluded that the airline properly relied on the exemptions.