The privacy commissioners of Canada and British Columbia have launched an investigation into a Victoria-based company that performs background checks on tenants and others.

They say in a joint statement that Certn is being assessed to make sure it complies with the federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act and B.C.害羞草研究所檚 Personal Information Protection Act.

The commissioners say they will investigate whether 害羞草研究所渃onsent provisions害羞草研究所� in both laws are being followed, and whether the data it collects is being used appropriately.

Certn害羞草研究所檚 website says that instead of using 害羞草研究所渙utdated害羞草研究所� manual screening for clients, it performs background checks using 害羞草研究所�100 per cent online automated checks,害羞草研究所� and can conduct criminal record checks, identity checks, and employment verification in more than 200 countries.

The company wasn害羞草研究所檛 immediately available for comment on the investigation by the commissioners.

Privacy Commissioner of Canada Philippe Dufresne says in a news release that personal information collected about potential tenants must be collected with consent and must be accurate because it 害羞草研究所渕ay ultimately impact an individuals害羞草研究所� ability to find a place to live.害羞草研究所�

B.C. Privacy Commissioner Michael Harvey says there害羞草研究所檚 a balance between the privacy rights of individuals and the needs of businesses to collect information about them.

害羞草研究所淎t a time when hundreds of thousands of British Columbians are facing affordability and housing challenges, striking this balance and ensuring that people害羞草研究所檚 privacy rights are respected in the rental space is critically important,害羞草研究所� he said in the release.

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The Canadian Press