Privacy laws are legislation that governs how organizations collect, use, store, and disclose personal information. In Canada, the Privacy Act covers federal government institutions, while PIPEDA (Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act) applies to private-sector organizations in most provinces. Some provinces have their own privacy legislation that may apply to municipalities and provincial public bodies. These laws generally require organizations to obtain consent for collecting personal information, use it only for stated purposes, keep it secure, and allow individuals to access their own records. Municipalities must comply with applicable privacy laws when handling resident data for services, permits, and programs.