Understanding Bill 64 and Its Implications on Biometrics
Introduction
On June 12th, 2020, the government of Quebec passed a new piece of legislation known as Bill 64. The law aims to strengthen privacy protection for citizens and create a framework for the responsible management of personal information by private bodies. One of the significant changes that the bill introduces is in the usage of biometric data. In this article, we will discuss Bill 64 and its implications on biometrics.
What is Bill 64?
Bill 64 is a privacy bill passed by the government of Quebec, which aims at giving the citizens more control over their personal information. The overall purpose of the bill is to protect against the unauthorized or inappropriate collection, use, and disclosure of personal information by companies and institutions. The bill affects all businesses that conduct Is business in Quebec and have personal information.
Implications on Biometrics
Biometrics refers to biological data that enables the identification and authentication of individuals. Biometric data includes facial recognition, fingerprints, and iris scans. Bill 64 prohibits the use of biometric data, except for certain outlined purposes such as security, fraud prevention, or access to a physical space. The use of biometric data for commercial purposes such as marketing will be prohibited.
This new law will require businesses to obtain explicit consent from their customers before collecting, using, or storing their biometric data. Moreover, businesses will be required to inform customers of the purpose of biometric data collection, how it will be used, and stored. Companies failing to obtain consent will face penalties ranging from $10,000 to $25,000.
What does This mean for Companies?
Companies who have been using biometric data without obtaining consent will have to adjust how they collect and use the data. They will need to re-evaluate their processes to ensure that they are compliant with the new law. This may involve training employees, updating privacy policies, and reviewing data protection measures.
Conclusion
Bill 64 marks a significant development in the privacy rights of Quebec citizens and the protection of the data. Businesses that handle sensitive personal information, specifically biometric data, must adhere to the new law. Failure to abide by the new legal framework may result in steep penalties. Therefore, companies must adapt their data processing policies to comply with the changes introduced by Bill 64. It is a step in the right direction, given that more and more companies have access to sensitive personal data. The ultimate goal is to strike a balance between using data to create more personalized experiences and protecting sensitive personal information.
In conclusion, Quebec’s Bill 64 highlights a changing regulatory landscape in Canada and demands a shift in the approach to data collection, storage and protection.
