Canadian coffee chain Tim Hortons monitored and recorded the movements of customers using the branded app, in violation of Canada’s privacy laws, according to an investigation by authorities reported by the Office of the country’s Privacy Commissioner.
According to the agency, the application led many users to believe that access to geolocation would only occur while using the tool, to create more targeted promotions.
The fast-food company would, in fact, be collecting data on an ongoing basis, including place of residence and work.
Even after suspending targeted advertising plans, Tim Hortons continued to gather the information for a year, according to officials. The screening was stopped in 2020 after the investigation began.
According to the Canadian office, the network had a “vague and permissive” contract with a US third-party location services company, which would allow the company to sell the unidentified location data for its own purposes.
The company responded to Canadian authorities that it used the locations to a limited extent to analyze customer trends.
Tim Hortons agreed to implement recommendations from authorities, such as a privacy management program and deletion of remaining data.
The chain belongs to RBI (Restaurant Brands International), which also owns Burger King and Popeyes.
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