Everyone has the right to a reasonable expectation of privacy. Privacy law regulates the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information (i.e. identifiable information about an individual), including video or audio recordings and biometrics.

In British Columbia, privacy laws for private sector organizations (businesses, non-profits, landlords, etc.,) and public sector organizations (government ministries, municipal police forces, etc.) are governed under the following legislation:

• Personal Information Protection Act (private sector)
• Freedom of Information and the Protection of Privacy Act (public sector)

Privacy laws for federally-regulated private sector organizations (airlines, banks, telecommunications companies, etc.) and public sector organizations (government ministries, RCMP, etc.) are governed under the following legislation:

• Personal Information and Electronic Documents Act (private sector)
• Privacy Act (public sector)

Complaints for breaches to privacy laws can be filed with one of the following independent oversight bodies:

• Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia (provincial)
• Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (federal)

If you want to learn more about privacy law in British Columbia or how to file a complaint against a private or public sector organization for breaching your privacy rights, please read our Privacy Factsheets on:

• Biometrics in the Workplace
• Strata Corporations
• Video and Audio Recordings in the Workplace

Once you have read our Factsheets, and you have questions, you can call one of the following:

• Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia
• Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada

Everyone has the right to access records held by government, subject to some limitations. Access to information law regulates access to records held by government ministries and their service providers, including police forces.

In British Columbia, access to information laws are governed under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (“FOIPPA”). FOIPPA guarantees members of the general public the right to access records held by BC government ministries and their service providers, with limitations, including:

• Personal records: information of a personal nature about an identifiable individual, such as records held by a municipal police force
• General records: information of a general nature that can be released in whole or in part, such as briefing notes, contracts, etc.

Access to information laws for federal institutions, such as government ministries and the RCMP, are governed under the following legislation:

• Privacy Act (for personal records)
• Access to Information Act (for general records)

Complaints for breaches to access to information laws can be filed with one of the following independent oversight bodies:

• Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia (provincial)
• Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (federal)

Please read our Access to Information Factsheet if:

• You want to learn more about access to information law
• You want to access a personal or general record from a government ministry or their service providers
• You want to correct an error or omission in a record held by a government ministry or their service providers
• You want to file a complaint against a private or public sector organization for a failure to release records

Once you have read our Factsheet, and you have questions, please call one of the following:

• Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia
• Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada