Prioritizing Privacy by Design: A Made-in-Canada Approach for Data Collaboration, Innovation and Trust

Today, January 28th, many organizations are recognizing Data Privacy Day, marking 18 years since it was first established in 2007. It’s fitting that our federal Privacy Commissioner, Philippe Dufresne, identified Canada’s 2026 theme as “Prioritizing Privacy-by-Design”, a global, privacy and data protection framework that was invented in Canada.

Data is central to making Canadians’ lives better and making Canada stronger. At the same time, more complex privacy regulations, AI models and digital ecosystems are making data more siloed and it’s often seen as too risky or hard to use. Access to good quality, safe and reliable data is essential for Canadian companies.

To unlock the potential of data we need a Canadian, privacy-forward approach that leverages partnerships, products and platforms and makes the best quality data available where and when it’s needed. For marketers and brands, this means being able to leverage their first-party data to see better results and measurable outcomes in advertising campaigns while maintaining consumer trust.

For over 20 years, Environics Analytics has delivered accessible, safe, reliable and trusted data in our products and services. We help marketers overcome the limitations of siloed data and achieve better attribution, smarter targeting and deeper customer insights while respecting individual privacy.

We have built databases using innovative, safe and effective data powered by sound analytics and leading technology. Innovative means powering and leveraging all that AI brings to our organizations using both the LLMs and Agentic AI. Safe means adhering to not just laws and regulations but best practices and consumer expectations for transparency and trust. Effective means using models and methodologies that simulate reality—correctly describing the past and, to the best extent possible, being both predictive and prescriptive for the future.

Our approach has always been based on the strictest legal privacy frameworks and industry best practices. We are very proud to be one of the first Canadian companies to receive a certification under ISO 31700-1 Privacy by Design (PbD). This global standard guides our approach to data processing that fully integrates privacy-enhancing technologies and data protection principles into the design and development of our products, services and systems from the outset. And we have gone even further by adopting industry self-regulatory guidelines like the IAB’s Transparency and Consent Framework and the CMA’s ethical marketing code. Currently, we are raising the bar—updating our PbD processes, ensuring lowest risk of reidentification in analytics, platform and AI processing and actively pursuing an industry-standard AI policy and governance framework.

It’s fitting that prioritizing privacy-by-design is Canada’s theme for Global Data Privacy Day. In 1995, Ontario’s former Information and Privacy Commissioner, Ann Cavoukian, first articulated the 7 Principles of Privacy-by-Design. She was the leading global voice advocating for organizations to transform the way they build their products and services by bringing privacy to the forefront. In essence, looking at privacy differently: shifting data protection and privacy from a reactive, legal afterthought to a core organizational value, central to its people and culture.

We like to use the popular concept - “Build it in, don’t bolt it on.” Adopting the well-grounded principles in PbD and adapting them to the rapidly changing data landscape is fundamental in all that we do. We believe Canada cannot leverage the amazing potential of AI if the highest level of privacy principles is not in place, governing the collection, management and processing of the data driving the AI models.

There is no contradiction between being privacy-first, data-driven and trusted. Privacy and innovation can co-exist. They are not paradoxical. Both are imperative and need to be respected and maintained. Using a privacy-by-design approach can help organizations build data collaboration strategies that are not only compliant, but competitive. And, most importantly, meets consumer expectations for both privacy and a great brand experience.

Canadian marketers are at a pivotal moment. The tools, data and technologies are in place—but without orchestration, the opportunity is lost. It’s time to move beyond fragmented systems and embrace a Canada-first approach to data collaboration that aligns with our privacy standards, customer and regulatory expectations, and business realities. It means getting the data right and being aligned in a privacy-first culture and mindset. We are up for the challenge and ready to help our clients, our industry and our country.