You might be aware of the recent facial recognition backlash in the US; this month San Francisco notably banned its police from using facial recognition completely, and other bills are aiming to do just that.

But did you know the largest municipal police force in Canada has been using such technology for over a year?

Toronto police under the microscope

According to a report submitted by Chief Mark Saunders to the Toronto police services board, facial recognition is generating leads in investigations, especially since many crimes are being captured on video via surveillance cameras. The system was purchased in March 2018 (at a cost $451,718 plus annual maintenance and support fees); officers having conducted 2,591 facial recognition searches. The report was submitted in advance of a Thursday’s board meeting.

Toronto police’s implementation created matches for roughly 60 percent of 1,516 searches between March and December of 2018, about 80 percent of which led to the identification of criminal offenders. The report also mentions that facial recognition is not used as the only basis for arrests (contrary to fingerprint identification), but rather to generate potential candidates for further investigation. Information provided by facial recognition helped to solve four homicides, a number of sexual assaults, armed robberies as well as gang-related crimes.

Toronto police’s (facial recognition) implementation created matches for roughly 60 percent of 1,516 searches between March and December of 2018, about 80 percent of which led to the identification of criminal offenders.

The Toronto Star inquired Toronto Police Services about overall false positive rates and for various ethnic groups, and was told the technology is not used to make a positive identification. A representative of the police also said the force has no plans to extend its database beyond the existing mug-shot collection, it does not use real-time facial recognition, and does not have legal authorization to do so. Only six FBI-trained officers have access to the system, while body camera images can be used in the case when a criminal offence is captured on camera (court permission still being required).

Yet critics are quite suspicious of the technology. New Democratic Party Member of Parliament Charlie Angus told the Star that no concrete legislative oversight exists, hence “we need to hit the pause button.” Angus is also part of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics, which is currently studying artificial intelligence ethics. Angus told Mobile Syrup that his office is considering legislative changes to moderate the implementation of facial recognition.

Canadian privacy laws and their limitations

It’s important to note that facial recognition is limited in Canada by the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), which requires consent for the collection, use, or transmission of personal information, but does not specifically deal with artificial intelligence or facial recognition. “I think we really need to look at putting limits on facial recognition technology and lay the ground rules before it gets widely implemented,” Angus stated.

“I think we really need to look at putting limits on facial recognition technology and lay the ground rules before it gets widely implemented,” he added.

Some Canadian privacy experts are praising San Francisco’s decision

Some Canadian privacy experts have candidly praised San Francisco’s forbidding county and municipal departments from using facial recognition technology.

“It’s a big deal” stated Ann Cavoukian, former Ontario privacy commissioner and currently head of Ryerson University’s privacy by design centre of excellence. “This is the first time that I’m aware of that a major city in the world banned facial recognition technology. I think it’s unbelievable, and such a strong measure in support of privacy and personal liberties.”

“I think they’re acknowledging the fact that facial recognition is not the panacea that law enforcement believes it can be. It results in so many false positives, and those individuals who are falsely accused … it takes forever to clear your name.” She added.

Toronto, you are being watched (pun intended). ⚡🐱‍👤