Canadian Privacy Decisions

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner investigated a website that was broadcasting live audio from cellular telephones onto the internet. The investigation was discontinued after the Internet Service Provider shut down the Ottawa-based website due to bandwidth issues. The website had moved to a server in New York under new management.

• Unauthorized interception and broadcasting of private cell phone conversations
• Privacy implications of using scanners to capture cellular traffic
• Responsibility of Internet Service Providers for content hosted on their networks

The OPC investigated a complaint concerning a transportation company's practice of collecting passengers' dates of birth and citizenship for the Toronto-to-New York route and disclosing this information to U.S. Customs. The company confirmed this practice, which began in 2000, was an agreement with U.S. border agencies to minimize delays. The OPC determined that sales agents misrepresented the collection of this information as mandatory.

• Collection of personal information without adequate notice or consent
• Disclosure of personal information to a third party (U.S. Customs)
• Misrepresentation of information collection as mandatory