Canadian Privacy Decisions

Four complainants alleged that Transport Canada's requirement for owners of unmanned aircraft to display their personal information on the device contravened the Privacy Act. They argued this obligation to publicly display contact information without consent was a violation of disclosure provisions. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) found that while the information collected is personal, the requirement did not constitute a collection by Transport Canada itself, and therefore, the disclosure provisions of the Act did not apply. The OPC concluded the complaints were not well-founded, acknowledging the measure was an interim safety precaution but noted Transport Canada intended to revise the regulations to address privacy concerns.

• Whether the requirement to display personal information on unmanned aircraft constitutes a collection under the Privacy Act.
• Whether the disclosure of personal information on unmanned aircraft contravenes the disclosure provisions of the Privacy Act.
• The balance between aviation safety and public privacy.
• The authority of the Minister of Transport to issue interim orders for aviation safety.