An IAPP analysis of Canada’s privacy regulator decision on Loblaw highlights key lessons on data anonymization. It confirms companies can use data for secondary purposes if it is properly anonymized, but stresses anonymization must reduce re-identification risk — not eliminate it entirely. The ruling emphasizes the need for strong evidence, documentation, and independent third-party reviews of anonymization practices. Overall, organizations must adopt defensible, risk-based approaches to data retention to comply with Canadian privacy law.
