Federal (Canada) Privacy Decisions

Jurisdiction

Federal (Canada)Ontario British Columbia Alberta Saskatchewan Manitoba Quebec Nova Scotia New Brunswick Prince Edward Island Newfoundland and Labrador Yukon Northwest Territories Nunavut

Governing law

ATIA CASL PIPEDA Privacy Act

Outcome

OIC Order (ATIA s.36.1, binding)Well-founded Well-founded & resolved Well-founded & conditionally resolved Well-founded & unresolved Not well-founded Action warranted s.6.1 Application Granted (refusal authorized)s.6.1 Application Denied (must respond)Settled Resolved Early-resolved Discontinued Withdrawn Declined to investigate No jurisdiction

Decision Type

Systemic Investigations

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Federal (Canada)Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents ActDiscontinued

Sep 17, 2001IncidentIndexed Jun 30, 2026

Incident: Web site broadcasts cell phone conversations

An Ottawa-based Web site / Internet Service Provider

The OPC initiated an investigation after a news report revealed an Ottawa-based website was streaming live cell phone conversations. The website was using a scanner to intercept cellular telephone traffic and broadcasting it online. During the investigation, the Internet Service Provider (ISP) hosting the website shut it down due to bandwidth issues. The ISP also terminated an employee who was responsible for the unauthorized data forwarding. The website reportedly moved to a New York server under new management. Given the shutdown of the Ottawa-based site, the OPC discontinued its investigation.

Official ↗

How outcomes work

Federal rulings come from two regulators with different statutory authority — outcome filters cover both.

OIC Order (ATIA s.36.1, binding) — Since June 2019 (Bill C-58) the Information Commissioner can issue binding orders requiring disclosure or reconsideration. Enforceable after 31/41 business days unless reviewed by the Federal Court (s.41).

Well-Founded — finding that the complaint is well-founded. For OIC: ATIA s.37(1)(a) finding (may be paired with a s.36.1 order). For OPC: Privacy Act s.35(1) / PIPEDA s.13(1) advisory finding — recommendations only, no binding order-making power.

Not Well-Founded — no contravention found.

s.6.1 Application— the OIC's response to a head's application for authorization to refuse a frivolous, vexatious, or bad-faith access request. Granted = institution may refuse; Denied = institution must respond.

Settled / Resolved / Early-resolved — OPC matter resolved during or before formal findings without a contravention finding.

Declined to investigate / No jurisdiction — Procedural close (Privacy Act s.34, PIPEDA discretion, or scope outside the Acts).

References: ATIA s.36.1 · OPC disposition definitions

About this archive

Condita Research archives Canadian privacy decisions from federal, provincial, and territorial commissioners. Each decision includes an AI-generated plain-language summary. Always verify against the official source document.

Federal (Canada) privacy & access decisions

Incident: Web site broadcasts cell phone conversations

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Incident: Web site broadcasts cell phone conversations

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