gslade@medicinehatnews.com@MHNGillianSlade
The Information and Privacy Commissioner is investigating Edmonton Police Service’s use of Clearview AI’s facial recognition technology.
Jill Clayton said Edmonton Police Service was “previously not forthcoming about its use” of the technology.
According to a New York Times story in January, the technology can assist police in crime investigations and help to identify people. The vast databank of photographs was allegedly accumulated from photos already on the internet.
It was only after a data breach affected Clearview AI’s client list that Clayton’s office was made aware that some Edmonton Police Service employees had used the product.
“Transparency is paramount to gaining the public’s trust when an organization explores the use of new technologies that have privacy implications,” said Clayton.
She pointed out that it is a wake-up call to law enforcement about the need to build public trust regarding the increased use of technologies and data-driven policing.
In addition to an investigation into Clearview AI’s compliance with Alberta’s private sector privacy law, Clayton’s office is investigating whether Edmonton Police Service is complying with Alberta’s public sector privacy law.
“I will be writing to municipal police forces in Alberta about their potential relationships with Clearview AI,” said Clayton.
Medicine Hat Police Service confirmed on Friday that it is “currently not using Clearview AI, nor are we testing any other facial recognition technology at this time,” said an emailed statement.
“However one of our officers, who is seconded to an Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team Integrated Child Exploitation Unit (ALERT ICE) position, has been exploring the potential for this technology to assist with investigations assigned to him as part of his ALERT ICE role.”
The RCMP has admitted limited use of this facial recognition technology by Clearview AI. The federal privacy commissioner is launching an investigation about the RCMP’s use of this, according to media reports. The National Child Exploitation Crime Centre has been using the software for about four months and on Friday it was revealed Halifax Police has been using the technology.
