Internet and personal information
Introduction
On a merchant's site, the consumer must ensure that the means used to collect, protect and use personal information is acceptable before providing such information.
- Taking the time to read the company policy may change your mind about dealing with certain merchants.
- Find out who collects the information and who has access to it.
- Ensure that no information will be given to third parties without your explicit consent or used for purposes other than those envisaged.
- Avoid spam (unsolicited commercial offers) by being very careful about giving out your e-mail address online or off line. Know the merchant's policy regarding transferring or selling e-mail addresses to third parties.
Thanks to new technologies, merchants can refine their sales techniques more than ever by watching consumer behaviour and accumulating data on consumer identity and habits.
On the Internet, while it is difficult to escape this invasion of privacy, consumers are advised to take certain precautions to give merchants as little information as possible.
On the home page or one click away, you should be able to find out the merchant's protection of personal information policy. It should provide for the following:
- only the information needed for the transaction are collected;
- within the company, this information is protected and access to it is controlled;
- the consumer is entitled to be given the information concerning him/her and to correct it, if need be;
- the company does not transmit this information to a third party unless it is explicitly authorized to do so by the consumer or required to do so by legal authorities.
Regulations governing merchants
The merchant must comply with strict rules where the protection of personal information is concerned. They can be summarized into five main principles:
- the merchant must tell you what personal information he collects and why;
- the merchant may not demand that you provide personal information unless it is necessary for the transaction;
- the merchant may not use your personal information for any purpose other than the one disclosed to you;
- the merchant may not transmit information about you to other companies without your consent. If he wishes to use it for business development purposes (mass mailing, telemarketing, etc.) or sell it to another company for this purpose, he must give you an opportunity to oppose these uses (by checking off a box, for example);
- the consumer is entitled to consult his/her file and correct errors. The merchant must inform the consumer of the procedure to follow to do so.
In principle, then, you control your personal information. You must be told what is done with it and freely consent to this use. The merchant must respect his commitments and you may monitor what is done with your information. These rules have been in effect since 1994 under the Act respecting the protection of personal information in the private sector.
Recourses
If you are dissatisfied with matters linked to the use of your personal information, you can complain to the Commission d'accès à l'information
, notably when:
- the merchant demands personal information that is not necessary for the transaction at hand (e.g. additional proof of identity or information that has no logical link with the purchase of a given item);
- the merchant refuses to give you access to your file or refuses to correct an error in your file.
Beware
The majority of websites use "cookies", which are stored on your computer's hard drive. These may be useful for facilitating navigation, for example, preventing you from having to complete a new form.
However, they can also be disruptive, especially if you don't know exactly why they are hosted or for how long.
Nowadays, it is practically impossible to navigate without authorizing cookies. However, in your browser's preference menu, you can configure the software to warn you each time a cookie is sent. This way, you can decide to authorize or refuse it.
In both cases, you will know what to expect and this will remind you that from time to time it is a good idea to delete them.
A commercial site that uses cookies should warn visitors, in its declaration on the protection of privacy, that it uses them and clearly indicate for what purpose.
If it doesn't, shop somewhere else!