What privacy and consent rules apply to consumer software in Canada and the US?
Consumer products collect personal data from day one. The rules depend on where your users live.
- Which privacy laws apply?
- Do we need a cookie banner?
- What about kids?
In Canada, PIPEDA applies to most private companies, and Quebec, Alberta and BC have their own laws; Quebec's is the strictest. In the US, there's no single federal law: several states have comprehensive privacy laws, and the FTC acts against unfair data practices. If you sell in the EU, GDPR applies. Collect only what you need, explain it plainly and honour opt-outs. Get legal advice for your situation.
Canada first
- PIPEDA for most private companies.
- Quebec, Alberta and BC provincial laws.
- CASL for commercial messages.
United States
- State privacy laws, which vary.
- FTC rules on unfair practices.
- Children's privacy rules for under-13 users.
How we look at it at ShoutEx
We set up consent tools, data maps and privacy-friendly analytics. Consent and privacy covers analytics consent. This is general information, not legal advice.
- Collecting everything.
- Copied privacy policies.
- Ignoring Quebec.
- No opt-out handling.
- Data minimized.
- Plain-language policy.
- Province and state rules checked.
- Opt-outs honoured.
What founders and platforms say
Here is what regulators say.
Canada's federal private-sector privacy law.
Read PIPEDA in brief →Community summaries describe recurring themes in public threads, not individual posts. Vendor pages describe vendor claims, so test them on your own calls.
Read next
Go deeper in the ShoutEx guides, or check the sources behind this answer.
We'll set up consent and privacy-friendly tracking.
Book a call →Follow-up questions
Do we need a privacy officer?
Canadian law expects someone accountable.
Cookie banner required?
Depends on where users are and what you track.
Can we use customer data for AI?
Only as your policy and consent allow.