Published on 04/10/2022 at 19:03
A House of Commons committee is recommending a moratorium on the use of facial recognition technology by federal police and Canadian companies. (Photo: The Canadian Press)
Ottawa — A House of Commons committee is recommending a moratorium on the use of facial recognition technology by federal police and Canadian businesses unless there is court approval or consultation with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner.
In a report presented on Tuesday, the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics also urges the government to develop a regulatory framework for the use, bans, monitoring and protection of privacy in relation to this emerging tool.
Face recognition technology compares an image of a face against a database of millions of photos to identify a person.
MEPs on the committee say adequate data protection should address issues such as the accuracy, retention and transparency of facial recognition initiatives. They also recommend a comprehensive strategy for Canadians’ informed consent to the use of their personal information.
MPs are also asking the government to amend data protection law to ban the private sector from taking pictures of Canadians from the internet or public spaces to feed databases, data from facial recognition technologies or artificial intelligence algorithms.
The committee believes that current legislation in Canada is insufficient to adequately regulate facial recognition technology and artificial intelligence.
“Without proper guidance, facial recognition technology and other artificial intelligence tools could cause irreparable harm to some individuals,” the report concludes.
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