Canada: Announced OPC and OIPC BC investigation into Certn (Canada) Inc. over background screening practices

On 4 June 2024, the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) and the Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia (OIPC BC) announced a joint investigation into Certn (Canada) Inc., a company providing online and automated background check services across Canada, including tenant screening for landlords. The investigation aims to evaluate Certn’s adherence to the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act at the federal level and the Personal Information Protection Act of British Columbia. The focus is on examining the company’s tenant screening processes, particularly regarding compliance with consent provisions under both laws, the accuracy, completeness, and currency of the information collected, used, and disclosed, and the appropriateness of the purposes for collecting such information.