Commissioner Discusses Cross-Border Data Risks From Connected Vehicles
Summary
Privacy Commissioner Philippe Dufresne appeared before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Science and Research on April 16, 2026, to discuss privacy implications of connected vehicles under the Canada-China Preliminary Joint Arrangement on Electric Vehicles. The Commissioner noted that modern vehicles collect and transmit large volumes of personal data that could be transferred to foreign jurisdictions without appropriate protections. He recommended that Canada's federal private-sector privacy law be amended to specifically address cross-border data flows to ensure Canadians' personal information is protected before leaving the country.
What changed
The Privacy Commissioner of Canada provided testimony before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Science and Research regarding privacy risks associated with connected vehicles under the Canada-China Preliminary Joint Arrangement on Electric Vehicles. The Commissioner highlighted that connected vehicles collect and transmit significant volumes of personal data, raising concerns about transfers to foreign jurisdictions lacking adequate protections.
Affected parties—including vehicle manufacturers, technology companies, and organizations operating in the connected vehicle sector—should monitor this policy development. While the Commissioner's recommendation to amend federal privacy law remains at the proposal stage, it signals increasing regulatory attention to cross-border data flows and the need for explicit protections for personal information collected by connected devices. Organizations should review their data transfer practices and ensure appropriate safeguards are in place.
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Apr 17, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
News release
Privacy Commissioner of Canada appears before Parliamentary Committee to discuss potential privacy implications of the Canada-China Preliminary Joint Arrangement on the Electric Vehicle Sector
April 16, 2026 – Ottawa, Ontario
Privacy Commissioner of Canada Philippe Dufresne appeared today before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Science and Research on its study of the Implications of the Canada-China Preliminary Joint Arrangement on Canada’s Electric Vehicle Sector. Commissioner Dufresne addressed the potential privacy implications of the agreement.
In his remarks, Commissioner Dufresne noted that many of today’s cars are connected to the Internet, which offers convenience such as real-time navigation assistance. Connected features also raise important privacy considerations, as the vehicles collect and transmit large volumes of personal data, which could be transferred or stored in foreign jurisdictions without appropriate protection.
Commissioner Dufresne noted that he has recommended that Canada’s federal private-sector privacy law be amended to specifically address cross-border data flows to ensure that Canadians’ personal information is appropriately protected prior to leaving the country.
Related link
Media contact
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
communications@priv.gc.ca
Date modified:
2026-04-16
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