What is Personal Information?

The OPC states that personal information includes any factual or subjective information, recorded or not, about an identifiable individual. It includes information in any form, such as:

  • Age, name, ID numbers, income, ethnic origin, or blood type;
  • Opinions, evaluations, comments, social status, or disciplinary actions; and
  • Employee files, credit records, loan records, medical records, etc

Personal information does not include the name, title, business address or telephone number of an employee of an organization.

PIPEDA requires private sector organizations to collect, use, or disclose your personal information by fair and lawful means, with your consent, and only for purposes that are stated and reasonable.