Categories
Mobile Syrup

Privacy commissioners find Tim Hortons tracked users’ geolocation data

A joint investigation launched by four Privacy Commissioners in Canada into Tim Horton’s tracking of users’ geolocation information through its app will not lead to any disciplinary action.

The Privacy Commissioners of Canada, Quebec, Alberta, and British Columbia started an investigation into the Canadian operator of Tim Hortons, The TDL Group, and parent company Restaurant Brands International after media reports indicated the app tracked users’ data.

The first article, published by the National Post, found the app tracked the article author to work, personal appointments, and even a vacation outside of Canada.

While the investigation found Tim Horton’s didn’t meet obligations under the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), Quebec’s Private Sector Law, or the Personal Information Protection Acts for Alberta and B.C. with collecting and using users’ location data, it accepts TDL’s commitment to bring the app to compliance.

“We will follow up with the company over the 12-month period following issuance of this report, and determine next steps, if any, depending on the level of TDL’s compliance with its commitments.”

More to come…

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Results of joint investigation into Tim Hortons app will be released Wednesday

Canada’s Office of the Privacy Commissioner will release a joint report Wednesday detailing how Tim Hortons’ app collects and uses app users’ geolocation information.

The commissioners of Canada, Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia launched the investigation in June 2020.

It started after media reports detailed the allegations. The National Post, the first one to report on the matter, said the app constantly tracked users’ movements, even if they were outside of Canada.

The Globe and Mail reports that more than one in 10 Canadians use the app every month, with more than 4.3 million active monthly users.

The company also faces four lawsuits, arguing the company used personal information to grow the app digitally.

“Geolocation data can be very sensitive as it can reveal information about the habits and activities of individuals, for example, medical visits or places that they regularly frequent,” the four commissioners stated when launching their investigation.

Source: National Post, Globe and Mail