Background checks and your personal information

What are my rights?

When I’m being considered for a job, is an employer allowed to search my Facebook profile without telling me?
  • Yes
  • No

It’s natural that a landlord would want to know as much as possible about a prospective tenant before granting a lease. The same goes for an employer when considering a job candidate. But they don’t have free rein to gather any information about you they want. Learn about BC’s privacy laws and the protection of your personal information.

What you should know

Work out the problem

Who can help

  • This information applies to British Columbia, Canada
  • Reviewed for legal accuracy in April 2022
  • Time to read: 12 minutes

Reviewed for legal accuracy by

Courtenay Catlin, Alexander Holburn

Courtenay Catlin

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We are grateful to work on the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, whose Peoples continue to live on and care for these lands.