Canada: Office of the Privacy Commissioner closed consultation on draft biometric information guidance

On 16 February 2024, the Canadian Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC) closed the consultation regarding the updating of its guidance for organisations concerning biometric information after an extension of the original deadline was announced by the OPC on 11 January 2024. In particular, the OPC aims to provide guidance to organisations regarding their privacy obligations when handling biometric information, including biometric recognition and biometric categorization, in accordance with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). The guidance addresses the identification of an appropriate purpose regarding the biometrics initiative, obtaining valid consent from individuals, limiting the collection of personal information, limiting the use, disclosure, and retention of information, adopting measures to safeguard personal information, ensuring the accuracy of personal information, and implementing measures for accountability and transparency.