Canada’s privacy commissioner has launched an investigation into the controversial ArriveCAN app amid complaints that the app is collecting travellers’ personal information.
“Our office has received and is currently investigating a complaint that raises concerns with respect to the collection of personal information through ArriveCAN and subsequent use of that information,” said the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada in an email dated July 27.
In June 2020, a group of federal Conservatives also asked the privacy commissioner to investigate ArriveCAN due to concerns they had about the potential misuse of data. The privacy commissioner responded two months later and said that he reviewed the app’s privacy conditions and that he didn’t have any concerns at the time.
"The arrive can app is increasingly unnecessary, and it's hopelessly broken. So when will the government commit to ending the chaos at our borders and our airports?" pic.twitter.com/zZiw7xf5Ap
— Canadian Riley (@TiaRileyCanada) June 22, 2022
“Given the ongoing investigation and consultations, we do not have further details to provide at this time,” the privacy commissioner said.
ArriveCAN was first launched as a voluntary app in April 2020 as a way of collecting personal information needed by public health officials to enforce quarantine rules.
Its continued mandatory use has come under intense scrutiny over the past few months, especially as other public health measures fell to the wayside, such as mandatory masking and vaccine requirements.