Use of ClearviewAI by the RCMP
Information Certainty: Documented
Deployment Purpose: Criminal investigations
| Summary |
|---|
| 0 |
Products and Institutions:
| Product Deployed | Clearview AI (Software) |
|---|---|
| Institutions ⠉ | Clearview AI |
| Datasets | Clearview AI (Dataset) |
| Search software |
Status and Events:
| Status | Concluded |
|---|---|
| Events | Start (1 October 2019, Documented, , No description) End (1 July 2021, Documented, , No description) |
| Start Date | |
| End Date |
Users:
| Involved Entities | |
|---|---|
| Managed by | Clearview AI |
| Used by | Royal Canadian Mounted Police |
Location:
| City | Ottawa |
|---|---|
| Country ⠉ | Canada |
Description[ ]
Clearview’s records demonstrate that the RCMP conducted hundreds of searches using Clearview FRT via at least 19 accounts across the country. In light of the significant breadth of these collections of personal information in contravention of the Act, to inform our recommendations for appropriate corrective action, we examined the adequacy of the RCMP’s controls to ensure it complies with Section 4 of the Act when it collects personal information in novel ways and from new sources.
We found that the RCMP failed to properly assess the potential Privacy Act compliance risks that the use of Clearview’s massive database and facial recognition technology clearly presented. Further, it did not have systems in place to track, identify, assess, and control such novel collection of personal information. We therefore recommended that, within 12 months, the RCMP institute systemic measures and pertinent training to understand, track, identify, assess, and control the novel collection of personal information to ensure collection is limited as required by the Act. These recommendations are not limited to the matter at hand, but apply to any new technology involving the collection or use of personal information.
While the RCMP disagreed with our findings that it contravened the Act, it nonetheless agreed to implement our recommendations and we therefore find the matter well-founded and conditionally resolved. Implementing the recommendations will require broad and concerted efforts across the RCMP. The RCMP has taken certain preliminary remedial steps already, such a creating a National Technology Onboarding Program unit. However, much work remains to be done to ensure adoption of changes in decision-making culture across the RCMP – supported by well-embedded processes, tools and training. We strongly encourage the RCMP to dedicate the sustained resources and senior level-championing necessary for successful implementation of its commitment to the recommendations. 1
References
- a b "Police use of Facial Recognition Technology in Canada and the way forward - Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada". (2021) <https://www.priv.gc.ca/en/opc-actions-and-decisions/ar_index/202021/sr_rcmp/#toc1> Accessed: 2022-05-18