For shoppers out looking for bargains or returning presents, Canada’s Privacy Commissioner has some advice.

Be careful if retailers ask for your driver’s licence.

Jennifer Stoddart says more and more retailers are writing down their customers’ licence numbers, or even photocopying the licence. Stoddart says it’s usually an effort to prevent fraud, but in doing so, retailers could be breaking Canada’s privacy laws. 

Stoddart says in certain cases retailers can ask to see your identification -- but you have every right to know exactly how they intend to use it.  She says there are very few situations where the retailer needs to actually record the licence number. Stoddart added retailers could be breaking the law if they write down your licence number or even photocopy the licence itself, because it has all sorts of sensitive information about you.