In the light of recent legislative amendments to privacy laws and an increasing technological complexity in investigations by privacy commissioners, this article aims to dissect and define the concept of collection of personal information in Canada by examining investigations and case law. The proposed definition is that ‘collection’ means gaining control over someone else’s personal information, regardless of the collecting party’s intent. To do so, this article looks into each of the three components that are at the heart of the concept: acquisition, intent, and control. It is thus demonstrated that the concept of collection is flexible and suited to technological changes.