The Importance of Protecting Personal Information in the Digital Age: A Case Study on Pharmacy Employee Misconduct

2023-09-18 17:07:24

A laboratory technician at a pharmacy in Sherbrooke allegedly used the cell number found in a customer’s file to make advances to him by text message. An “illegal” gesture, according to an expert in the protection of personal data. A complaint was filed once morest the employee.

“It was I who served you at reception [de la pharmacie] sometimes. Honestly and without embarrassment to say it, I found you really handsome, and he who doesn’t try gets nothing, so I wanted to know firstly if you were into women, men or both? Then would you be interested in going for a walk or a coffee soon?”, we can read on the message.

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Patrick Plamondon reacted with shock and indignation when he received this text message, regarding an hour following his visit to the pharmacy. At the same time, he received a Facebook friend request from the same individual. “It was the same face as the person who served me at the pharmacy counter. It sawed my legs off,” says the customer.

What bothers Patrick Plamondon is the fact that his personal information was used for questionable reasons. “I was like, what is this? The employee uses the cell number in my file to make advances towards me, that doesn’t happen.”

Mr. Plamondon filed a complaint at the pharmacy. He would have been notified that the employee was suspended for at least one week. Reached by TVA Nouvelles, the pharmacy manager limited herself to saying that “the complaint is taken seriously by management and is still being evaluated.”

Additional requirements from September 22

Such a gesture contravenes the Act modernizing legislative provisions regarding the protection of personal information in the private sector, indicates professor at the School of Management of the University of Sherbrooke, Manon G. Guillemette. “It’s illegal. Personal information cannot be used for purposes other than those for which it is intended. [le client] please allow.”

Law 25 has been in force since September 22, 2022 and applies progressively. Quebec companies must already comply with certain requirements, such as having a designated person responsible for the protection of personal information with their contact details published on their website.

Starting this Friday, September 22, 2023, a dozen additional requirements will come into force. For example, establishing policies and practices governing the governance of personal information, or even destroying personal information when the purpose of its collection has been accomplished.

“These are tough requirements,” admits Ms. Guillemette. It requires a lot of effort from companies, which in my opinion is not a bad thing because as a company we must properly protect the personal information we collect. The biggest demands arrive this Friday. We did a survey, so we know businesses aren’t ready. Not only are they not ready for 2023, but the 2022 requirements are currently being applied in very few places.”

If they can currently benefit from a grace period, companies that do not comply with Law 25 will face fines from September 22, 2023.

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