Is the Trade in Personal Information Beneficial to Consumers?

Author

Me Marie-Eve Rancourt

Organization

Union des consommateurs

Published

2007

Summary

As consumers are increasingly confronted with clauses granting merchants the right to use their personal information for commercial purposes, and as methods enabling the collection and use of information without the consumer’s knowledge spread, the time has come to examine whether the trade in personal information benefits consumers in any fashion and whether privacy laws adequately perform their intended role. To this end, Union des consommateurs examined the laws overseeing the protection of personal information at the federal and provincial levels (with particular focus on Quebec), along with the context in which they were adopted, in order to determine their objectives. Union then conducted a survey of the different information collection methods, including how they function and how information is subsequently used. In concluding the analysis, Union looked at the putative advantages and disadvantages for the consumer arising from the personal information trade, as well as the potential risks. Finally, Union offers recommendations bearing both on existing business practices and the rules overseeing them.

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OCA Funded Research
This research received funding support through the Office of Consumer Affairs' Contributions Program.

Contact information

Source: Consumer Policy Research Database