Quebec private sector Act, section 12: use for another purpose needs consent or an exception (Act respecting the protection of personal information in the private sector, CQLR c. P-39.1, s. 12, as amended by S.Q. 2021, c. 25 (in force 22 September 2023))
In Quebec any use beyond the purpose of collection needs consent unless an exception applies, and commercial prospecting is expressly not a consistent purpose. The only exception near data projects is study, research or statistics on de-identified data; my reading is that a commercial AI licence is not that.
Dated 18 Oct 2026Source checked 18 Oct 2026Basis: primary text
In the source's own words
“Unless the person concerned gives his consent, personal information may not be used within the enterprise except for the purposes for which it was collected. ... (5) if its use is necessary for study or research purposes or for the production of statistics and if the information is de-identified. ... However, commercial or philanthropic prospection may not be considered a consistent purpose.”
Where it was read
Also read from the same source
- For customers or staff in Canada, has each person consented to this new use, or will the data be anonymised to the Canadian standard before it leaves? For Quebec, is the privacy impact assessment done and the written agreement ready?
- Quebec private sector Act, section 12: de-identified information is still personal information (Act respecting the protection of personal information in the private sector, CQLR c. P-39.1, s. 12, as amended by S.Q. 2021, c. 25 (in force 22 September 2023))
- Quebec private sector Act, section 13: communicating personal information to a third person needs consent (Act respecting the protection of personal information in the private sector, CQLR c. P-39.1, s. 13, as amended by S.Q. 2021, c. 25 (in force 22 September 2023))
- Quebec private sector Act, section 14: consent must be clear, free, informed and specific (Act respecting the protection of personal information in the private sector, CQLR c. P-39.1, s. 14, as amended by S.Q. 2021, c. 25 (in force 22 September 2023))
- Quebec private sector Act, section 17: privacy impact assessment before communicating information outside Quebec (Act respecting the protection of personal information in the private sector, CQLR c. P-39.1, s. 17, as amended by S.Q. 2021, c. 25 (in force 22 September 2023))
- Quebec private sector Act, section 18.4: the commercial transaction exception (Act respecting the protection of personal information in the private sector, CQLR c. P-39.1, s. 18.4, as amended by S.Q. 2021, c. 25 (in force 22 September 2023))
Figures it counts in
It is shown on its own, not counted into a figure.
Cited in this guide