Policies Public-facing policies
Meaningful Consent Policy
Makes consent simple, understandable, layered, and revocable. Plain language, just-in-time notices, no dark patterns, no bundled consents.
- Version
- 0.1.0
- Effective
- May 20, 2026
- Last reviewed
- May 20, 2026
- Review cycle
- every 6 months
- Master Policy Index entry
- §4 #7
Policy text
Meaningful consent is the operational expression of Constitution §2 principle 5. The doctrine’s required standards apply directly: plain language; just-in-time notices; separate consent for sensitive uses; no dark patterns; no bundled consent for unrelated purposes; easy withdrawal.
This policy applies to every Map.ca product team designing a consent flow, to AI tools that surface consent requests, and to vendors whose flows are embedded in Map.ca. Withdrawal of consent must be no harder than giving it.
Principles this policy enforces
- Consent must be meaningful
- Collect less, protect more
- Public data and personal data are not the same thing
What it requires
- Write consent notices in plain language and surface them just in time.
- Separate sensitive uses (precise location, civic reporting, minors) into their own consents.
- Provide a withdrawal path that is no harder than the consent flow.
What it forbids
- Do not bundle unrelated consents into a single accept button.
- Do not use dark patterns to extract consent.
- Do not make withdrawal harder than initial consent.
How it applies
- Product teams designing consent flows
- AI tools surfacing consent requests
- Embedded vendors
- Anyone collecting personal data on Map.ca
References
- PIPEDA — meaningful consent requirements
- Map.ca Policy Constitution §2 principle 5 — Consent must be meaningful
Related policies
Privacy Policy
What Map.ca collects, why, how long it is kept, who it is shared with, and what rights people have.
Data Minimization Policy
Do not collect data because it might be useful later. Collect it only because it is necessary now.
AI Use Policy
Where AI is used on Map.ca, what it can and cannot do, and how humans stay responsible for outcomes.