Mix-up by Immigration Officials Discloses Personal Information
A Canadian woman complained that her personal information, including her Social Insurance Number and tax assessment, was disclosed to a foreign national without her consent when he applied for a work permit. The information was sent by her MP to the Canadian High Commission in Dhaka. The High Commission returned all documents, including the woman's, to the applicant, who then allegedly shared them with others. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada found the complaint well-founded, noting that Citizenship and Immigration Canada acknowledged the lack of consent and that the disclosure should not have occurred.
- Disclosure of personal information without consent
- Adequacy of safeguards to prevent unauthorized disclosure
- Jurisdiction over foreign missions
Complaint well-founded — corrective measures recommended
The institution acknowledged that it did not have the complainant's consent and that her personal information should not have been disclosed. It took corrective action by apologizing to the complainant and implementing a new procedure at the mission.
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The OPC recommended that all High Commissions create a stamp to distinguish documents from sources other than a visa applicant, which the Dhaka mission has already done.
This summary is informational only and not legal advice.