Filming people, collecting viewer data and storing creator information all touch Canadian privacy law, and Quebec has gone further than the rest of the country in ways brands frequently miss.

Filming identifiable people needs consent

Anyone recognisable in a commercial video should have agreed to appear in it. A creator filming in a public place with strangers in shot creates a problem for the brand, not only for the creator, and a written release costs nothing before the shoot and a great deal after.

Quebec added obligations the rest of Canada does not have

Quebec privacy law imposes stricter requirements around consent, transparency and the handling of personal information, including specific rules on technology that identifies people. A campaign that is compliant in Ontario is not automatically compliant in Quebec.

Creator data is personal information too

Names, addresses, banking details and identity documents collected to pay a creator are personal information with obligations attached. Storing them in a shared drive that half the team can open is a genuine risk and an easy one to fix.

Children require particular care

Filming minors, or content aimed at them, carries additional consent and content requirements, and Quebec restricts commercial advertising directed at young children specifically. Get the parental consent in writing and get advice before building a campaign around it.

The practical version

Written releases for anyone on camera, a stated retention period for creator data, restricted access to identity documents, and a check with counsel before anything targeting children or using face identification. This is general information rather than legal advice.

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Frequently asked questions

Do people on camera need consent?

Yes, in writing before filming.

Is Quebec the same as the rest?

No, its obligations go further.

Is creator payment data covered?

Yes, it is personal information.

What needs extra care?

Anything involving children.