Privacy commissioners to investigate Clearview AI

An investigation into Clearview AI has been launched by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner, as well as three provincial privacy commissioners, due to growing concerns about the use of controversial facial recognition technology. In a statement, a spokesperson for federal Privacy Commissioner Daniel Therrien, said the investigation was “initiated in the wake of numerous media reports that have raised questions and concerns about whether the company is collecting and using personal information without consent”. The investigation will be carried out by the OPC, as well as the privacy commissioners from Quebec, BC and Alberta. The privacy watchdogs will determine whether Clearview AI’s practices are in compliance with Canadian privacy legislation, the spokesperson said, adding that privacy regulators in each province and territory had agreed to work together to “develop guidance for organizations -- including law enforcement -- on the use of biometric technology and facial recognition.” The spokesperson said no additional details were available as the investigation is ongoing. Clearview AI’s software compares images with billions of pictures scraped from public websites on the internet, providing the searcher with information including a person’s name, address, phone number and occupation. Its database is reportedly used by more than 600 law enforcement agencies around the world. Toronto police this month admitted to using Clearview AI technology, one month after initially denying its use, the CBC reported. Use of the software by law enforcement came under scrutiny after a New York Times investigation revealed its widespread use. A police spokesperson would not tell the CBC how many times officers had used Clearview AI but said police had asked Ontario’s Information and Privacy Commissioner, as well as the Crown Attorney’s office, to review whether the software was an appropriate investigative tool. Therrien told University of Ottawa law students on Jan. 28 that he was seeking new laws to govern the use of artificial intelligence, saying it was time that “the governance of AI move from ethical considerations to enforceable rules of law.” The Office of the Privacy Commissioner put forward 11 proposals as part of the consultation.

Privacy commissioners to investigate Clearview AI

Brief | February 21, 2020

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

FREE TRIAL

SUBSCRIBE

Inside The Wire Report

Information

Hill Times Publishing

Get in Touch With Us

Privacy commissioners to investigate Clearview AI

Brief | February 21, 2020

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

FREE TRIAL

SUBSCRIBE

Related Stories

Four cyber bills dead on the order paper as Parliament prorogued

Feds launch AI compute strategy

Canadian media companies sue OpenAI for copyright infringement, could cost $322 billion

OPINION: Government agencies using AI must implement governance programs, or risk losing trust

Reuse & Permissions

Inside The Wire Report

Information

Hill Times Publishing

Get in Touch With Us