Purpose
The purpose of the act is to govern the Private sector in collection, use or disclosure of Personal Information.
Applicability of PIPA- Alberta
The act under section 3 (1) merely declares that the act applies to all organizations except the ones mentioned in section 3 (2). However, for the sake of clarity a guide published by OIPC (Office of The Information & Privacy Commissioner) provides the examples of list which the act includes and they are-
- A corporation (including a strata Corporation)
- A partnership
- A doctor’s office
- An unincorporated Association
- A charity, a society, a church or other religious organization, a sports club, trade Union
- Political Party, a trust etc.
Non-Applicability of PIPA- Alberta
Section 3(2) of the act explicitly mentions the list of organization on which the act applies and they are –
- Public Bodies regulated under FIPPA (Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act)
- Personal information in some court documents
- Collection, use or disclosure of personal Information where Federal Act applies
- Jurnalistic, artistic, or literary purposes
- Solicitor-client privilege etc.
Misc. Points to be remembered:
- The responsibility of the Organization or caution is required to be taken by the Organzation is often described or referred as “a reasonable person would consider appropriate in the circumstances”.
- It provides/encourages organizations to develop a practice or policies that are necessary to meet the obligations mentioned under this act.
- Organization to develop processes to redress/respond to the complaints.
- The Act mandates an organization to designate one or more persons responsible to ensure the compliance of the act.
- The Act holds organizations responsible for the personal information under its control including those information not under its custody.