Ethics Committee calls for moratorium on use of facial recognition tech

Parliamentarians on the House of Commons Ethics committee are calling for a moratorium on the use of facial recognition technology (FRT) by federal policing agencies used in "confirmed consultation" with the federal privacy watchdog or through judicial authorization. The MPs are also calling for updates to the Privacy Act, and increased oversight of the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and FRT by public institutions. The MPs made the recommendations in a report, presented to parliament Tuesday, following a series of hearings on the matter in the wake of the Clearview AI scandal, in which the U.S.-based company partnered with Canadian police departments and engaged in what the federal privacy watchdog called "illegal mass surveillance." The committee wrote that its study "confirmed that Canada’s current legislative framework does not adequately regulate FRT and AI. Without an appropriate framework, FRT and other AI tools could cause irreparable harm to some individuals." "The Committee is therefore of the view that, when FRT or other AI technology is used, they must be used responsibly, within a robust legislative framework that protects Canadians’ privacy rights and civil liberties," the report read. "Since such a legislative framework does not exist at the time, a national pause should be imposed on the use of FRT, particularly with respect to police services." The recommendation for a moratorium echoes calls made by former federal Privacy Commissioner Daniel Therrien, who told the committee in May that a stronger legal framework was needed for the use of the tools. The OPC announced two separate investigations in 2020, one into Clearview, and one into the RCMP’s use of it. Also in 2020, some 31 civil society organizations called for a ban on law enforcement use of the technology, after the NDP called for a moratorium earlier in the year. In addition to the call for a moratorium on police use of FRT, the MPs are also calling for the strengthening of the Privacy Act to force government agencies to seek the advice of the Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC) before the adoption, creation, or use of FRT, as well as file impact assessments with the OPC's office. In their own testimony before the committee, both the Toronto Police Service and the RCMP pushed back against the notion of a moratorium on the use of the technology. The committee criticized the April appearance by the policing representatives at the committee, writing in the report that the MPs are "of the view that RCMP officials were very reluctant to provide complete answers to the Committee’s questions." "In particular, with respect to the use of Clearview AI technology, many members voiced concern during the RCMP’s testimony that witnesses were being evasive in their responses," the report read. — Reporting by Michael Lee-Murphy at mleemurphy@thewirereport.ca and editing by Paul Park at ppark@thewirereport.ca

Ethics Committee calls for moratorium on use of facial recognition tech

News | October 4, 2022

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Ethics Committee calls for moratorium on use of facial recognition tech

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