The privacy commissioners of Canada and British Columbia have launched an investigation into Victoria’s Certn, a company that performs background checks on tenants and others. The investigation aims to ensure compliance with the federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act and B.C.’s Personal Information Protection Act. The commissioners will assess whether Certn’s consent provisions and data usage practices are appropriate.
Certn’s website claims it uses automated online checks for background screening. The company is fully cooperating with the investigation. Privacy Commissioner Philippe Dufresne emphasized the importance of accurate data collection for housing. B.C. Privacy Commissioner Michael Harvey highlighted the need to balance privacy rights and business needs.
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