Canadian privacy & access decisions

A customer complained to the OPC after noticing a department store publicly displaying photographs of individuals, asking for information about them. The store claimed police and legal counsel advised this practice was permissible for alleged shoplifters. The OPC disagreed, explaining that publicly disclosing personal information (photographs) without consent is not allowed under PIPEDA. The store agreed to remove the pictures and discontinue the practice, opting to deal with police directly for such matters. The complainant was satisfied with this resolution.

• Whether publicly displaying photographs of suspected shoplifters without consent constitutes an unauthorized disclosure of personal information under PIPEDA
• Whether photographs of individuals recorded on video surveillance are considered personal information under PIPEDA