A somewhat surprising finding in the privacy survey released this week in Canada is that 41% of survey participants reported that they had stopped doing business with a company that experienced a privacy breach. The following is the privacy commissioner’s press release:
May 8, 2025 – Gatineau, QC
Privacy Commissioner of Canada Philippe Dufresne is marking Privacy Awareness Week with the release of his Office’s latest survey results, which show that nine in 10 Canadians are concerned about their privacy.
The theme of the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada’s (OPC) 2025 Privacy Awareness Week (May 5-9) campaign is “Prioritize Privacy,” highlighting the importance of strong data protection to build trust, support the well-being of Canadians, and foster a resilient Canadian economy where businesses can innovate and thrive.
According to the results of the OPC’s latest survey of Canadians, a significant majority of Canadians are concerned about their privacy when using social media, smartphones, artificial intelligence tools, and when engaging in online activities.
Six in 10 Canadians (62%) believe that the federal government respects their privacy rights, while 40% believe that businesses do.
Compared to five years ago, three-quarters of Canadians are less (28%) or much less (47%) willing to share their personal information with organizations.
The survey also highlights how many Canadians are taking actions to protect their own privacy:
- 78% have refused to provide an organization or business their personal information due to privacy concerns;
- 75% have adjusted privacy settings on a social media account; and
- 41% have stopped doing business with a company that experienced a privacy breach.
The Privacy Commissioner also released the results of an online survey of parents and teachers. The survey found that most parents worry about their children’s privacy online. Two-thirds or more are moderately to extremely concerned, with 45% highly concerned about risks to their child from the use or misuse of their personal information.
Privacy Awareness Week is a global effort held each year in May, coordinated by members of the Asia Pacific Privacy Authorities (APPA), to promote awareness of privacy issues and the importance of the protection of personal information.
The telephone survey of Canadians was administered to 1,500 residents across Canada between February 10 and March 3, 2025. It is considered accurate within plus or minus 2.5 per cent, 19 times out of 20.
The online survey was conducted with 302 parents and 109 primary and secondary school teachers between February 25 and 28, 2025. Because the samples are based on those who initially self-selected for participation in the panel, no estimates of sampling error can be calculated.
Quote
“Privacy matters to Canadians. Personal information is being collected, used and shared at an unprecedented scale – and Canadians are concerned about what happens with their data. Trust in how personal information is handled is becoming an important factor in people’s interactions with organizations and with technology. Prioritizing privacy will help to maintain this trust and contribute to a more resilient Canadian economy, as well as a more secure and enriching digital society.”
Philippe Dufresne
Privacy Commissioner of Canada