Home Depot Just Landed In Some Hot Water Over Its Data Policy

As technology continues to evolve, so do the concerns of millions of consumers as their personal information is shared across multiple platforms and with different companies. According to Tech Republic, a survey found that 40% of consumers don't trust companies to responsibly handle their data, while 47% stated they're worried about hackers. Another 13% say they aren't even able to trust the establishments they work for.

"This split between business and consumer sentiment isn't new, but its persistence shows that businesses have a long way to go if they want to make the public more comfortable with how they are collecting, using and safeguarding data," KPMG U.S. privacy services leader Orson Lucas explained in the report.

Nevertheless, countless of businesses have continued to do as they please with consumer data, some without the proper permission. The latest example? An investigation exposed Home Depot Canada's dubious activity of sharing customer data with another company without their knowledge, per Reuters.

An investigation led by Federal Privacy Commissioner Philippe Dufresne revealed that Home Depot Canada has been sharing customer data with Meta, the holding company of Facebook and Instagram, as reported by The Manual. However, they've allegedly been doing this without obtaining their approval. "It is unlikely that Home Depot customers would have expected that their personal information would be shared with a third-party social media platform simply because they opted for an electronic receipt," Dufresne said.

The Toronto Star further revealed that when customers provided their emails to obtain an electronic receipt, it was given to Meta by Home Depot Canada and used to link customers to their Facebook profiles. Then, Meta would use this information to analyze the efficiency of advertisements related to their purchases. As a result of the investigation, Home Depot released the following statement. "We value and respect the privacy of our customers and are committed to the responsible collection and use of information," the company said. "We'll continue to work closely with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada." Home Depot has also collected customer emails since 2018, previously stating that the purpose was to provide electronic copies of their receipts.