Canadian Border Agency to Use Amazon Biometric Tech to Track Deportees

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) plans to launch a facial recognition app called ReportIn this fall. The app is designed to monitor individuals facing deportation by using biometrics to confirm identity and record location data during check-ins.

The initiative stems from ongoing efforts since 2021 to develop a digital solution for tracking deportees who fail to comply with orders. The app will provide CBSA with regular updates on personal information, helping to manage and monitor individuals effectively.

The app uses technology from Amazon Web Services, specifically Amazon Rekognition, to perform face comparisons and generate similarity scores against reference photos. If the app fails to confirm a match, it will trigger a follow-up investigation by CBSA officers.

Although the app gathers location data during each check-in, it does not continuously track users. However, the app’s reliance on Amazon’s technology has raised concerns, particularly because Amazon has not voluntarily submitted its algorithms for testing by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

The CBSA says that enrollment in the app will be voluntary, and users can opt to report in person instead.

The CBSA already uses biometric technology in several areas. One of the primary uses is in the processing of travelers entering Canada. The CBSA uses biometric data, such as fingerprints and facial recognition, to verify the identity of travelers at border crossings and airports.

The CBSA also collects biometric information from visa applicants as part of the immigration process. This includes taking fingerprints and photos to confirm identities, which are then checked against immigration databases to prevent fraud and ensure that individuals entering the country are who they claim to be.

Source: RCI

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August 19, 2024 – by Cass Kennedy