Policies
Map.ca policy

Meaningful Consent Policy

Makes consent simple, understandable, layered, and revocable. Plain language, just-in-time notices, no dark patterns, no bundled consents.

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.

Requirements

  • 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.

Prohibitions

  • 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.

Related policies

Privacy PolicyWhat Map.ca collects, why, how long it is kept, who it is shared with, and what rights people have.Data Minimization PolicyDo not collect data because it might be useful later. Collect it only because it is necessary now.AI Use PolicyWhere AI is used on Map.ca, what it can and cannot do, and how humans stay responsible for outcomes.