July 30, 2021 – Alberta’s Privacy Commissioner investigated the Babylon by Telus Health appand found that parts of the virtual health-care app weren’t complying with the Health Information Act (HIA) and Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA).

Of particular concern, the commissioner’s office noted, was that “the collection and use of individuals’ government-issued ID and selfie photos through the app for identity verification and fraud prevention by using facial recognition technology was not compliant with PIPA and HIA.”

Scroll down to read the OIPC reports in full.

Clinical services offered by doctors through the app are subject to Alberta’s Health Information Act (HIA), the commissioner explained, which applies to certain regulated health-care professions.

Other features of the app, like the Symptom Checker, Healthcheck and clinical services provided by dietitians and mental health counsellors, are subject to PIPA, Alberta’s private sector privacy law. Global News reports. | READ MORE