Tim Hortons mobile ordering app faces investigation by Canadian privacy agencies

The Tim Hortons mobile ordering app is being investigating by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada and provincial agencies in Quebec, B.C. and Alberta.

The joint investigation was prompted by concerns raised in media reports about how the app may be collecting and using data about people's movements as they go about their daily activities.

It will examine whether the fast food restaurant chain owned by Restaurant Brands International Inc. is in compliance with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, Canada's federal private sector privacy law.

The privacy agencies will look at whether the organization is obtaining meaningful consent from app users to collect and use their location data, information that can reveal habits and activities of individuals, including places they regularly frequent.

The federal Privacy Commissioner's office says it considers this to be an issue of great importance to Canadians given the very sensitive privacy issues it raises.

Restaurant Brands International couldn't be immediately reached for comment.