Canada: Adopted Privacy Commissioner resolution addressing privacy-related harms resulting from deceptive design patterns

On 13 November 2024, the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, along with privacy regulators at the subnational level, adopted a joint resolution to combat the use of deceptive design patterns that infringe on privacy rights. The resolution, made during the annual meeting of federal, provincial, and territorial information and privacy commissioners and ombuds, calls for organisations to adopt privacy-first design practices. The resolution specifically targets deceptive design patterns that manipulate users, particularly younger ones, into making decisions detrimental to their privacy interests. It outlines measures for organisations to build privacy into their design frameworks, limit personal information collection, use clear language, review design elements to reduce deceptive patterns and choose designs that adhere to privacy principles.