Canva Data Handling

Canva Data Handling

Overview

Handle Canva Connect API data responsibly. The API exposes user identifiers, design metadata, design content (via exports), uploaded assets, and comments. Apply proper classification, retention, and privacy controls.

Prerequisites

• A documented inventory for design metadata/content, exports, assets, comments, OAuth tokens, and signed URLs.
• Approved encrypted storage, retention/deletion workflow, and a privacy/incident owner.

Instructions

1. Collect only fields needed for the approved purpose and classify them before persistence or sharing.
2. Keep tokens and temporary export URLs server-side, encrypted, access-controlled, and excluded from logs and analytics.
3. Apply retention/deletion policy to exports and caches, then retain only a redacted execution receipt.

Data Classification — Canva API Responses

Token Protection

// NEVER log tokens — they grant full access to a user's Canva account
function redactCanvaData(data: any): any {
  const sensitiveKeys = [
    'access_token', 'refresh_token', 'authorization',
    'client_secret', 'code_verifier',
  ];

  if (typeof data !== 'object' || data === null) return data;

  const redacted = Array.isArray(data) ? [...data] : { ...data };
  for (const key of Object.keys(redacted)) {
    if (sensitiveKeys.includes(key.toLowerCase())) {
      redacted[key] = '[REDACTED]';
    } else if (typeof redacted[key] === 'object') {
      redacted[key] = redactCanvaData(redacted[key]);
    }
  }
  return redacted;
}

// Safe logging
console.log('Canva response:', JSON.stringify(redactCanvaData(apiResponse)));

Temporary URL Handling

Canva API responses include URLs with limited lifetimes. Never cache beyond expiry.

interface CanvaUrlPolicy {
  type: string;
  ttl: number;        // milliseconds
  cacheable: boolean;
}

const URL_POLICIES: Record<string, CanvaUrlPolicy> = {
  thumbnail:  { type: 'thumbnail',  ttl: 15 * 60 * 1000,      cacheable: false }, // 15 min
  edit_url:   { type: 'edit_url',   ttl: 30 * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000, cacheable: true }, // 30 days
  view_url:   { type: 'view_url',   ttl: 30 * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000, cacheable: true }, // 30 days
  export_url: { type: 'export_url', ttl: 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000, cacheable: false }, // 24 hours
};

// Track URL expiry
class CanvaUrlTracker {
  private urls = new Map<string, { url: string; expiresAt: number }>();

  store(id: string, type: string, url: string): void {
    const policy = URL_POLICIES[type];
    this.urls.set(`${id}:${type}`, {
      url,
      expiresAt: Date.now() + (policy?.ttl || 0),
    });
  }

  get(id: string, type: string): string | null {
    const entry = this.urls.get(`${id}:${type}`);
    if (!entry || Date.now() > entry.expiresAt) return null;
    return entry.url;
  }
}

Data Retention

Automatic Cleanup

async function cleanupCanvaData(): Promise<void> {
  const now = Date.now();

  // Remove expired export URLs
  await db.exportUrls.deleteMany({ expiresAt: { $lt: new Date(now) } });

  // Remove old API logs
  const thirtyDaysAgo = new Date(now - 30 * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000);
  await db.canvaApiLogs.deleteMany({
    createdAt: { $lt: thirtyDaysAgo },
    type: { $nin: ['audit'] },
  });

  // Remove tokens for deleted/inactive users
  await db.canvaTokens.deleteMany({ userId: { $in: await getDeletedUserIds() } });
}

GDPR/CCPA Compliance

Data Subject Access Request

async function exportCanvaUserData(userId: string): Promise<object> {
  const tokens = await tokenStore.get(userId);

  return {
    source: 'Canva Connect API',
    exportedAt: new Date().toISOString(),
    data: {
      identity: tokens ? await canvaAPI('/users/me', tokens.accessToken) : null,
      hasActiveConnection: !!tokens,
      // Note: Canva stores the user's designs — their data is in Canva's system
      // Your app only stores: tokens, cached metadata, and integration state
    },
  };
}

Right to Deletion

async function deleteCanvaUserData(userId: string): Promise<void> {
  // 1. Revoke tokens (disconnects from Canva)
  const tokens = await tokenStore.get(userId);
  if (tokens) {
    await revokeCanvaToken(tokens.accessToken, clientId, clientSecret);
  }

  // 2. Delete stored tokens
  await tokenStore.delete(userId);

  // 3. Clear cached design metadata
  await cache.deletePattern(`canva:user:${userId}:*`);

  // 4. Audit log (required — do not delete)
  await auditLog.record({
    action: 'GDPR_DELETION',
    userId,
    service: 'canva',
    timestamp: new Date(),
  });
}

Output

Data handling produces a scoped inventory, storage/retention decision, and redacted access or deletion receipt. It excludes design content, tokens, signed URLs, and personal identifiers from routine telemetry.

Examples

For a short-lived export, place the file in encrypted job storage with an expiry and authorize access through a server route. For a deletion request, verify the subject through the approved workflow, process only in-scope data, and record the redacted completion receipt.

Error Handling

Resources

• Canva Privacy Policy
• GDPR Developer Guide
• Canva API Reference

Next Steps

For enterprise access control, see canva-enterprise-rbac.