Police in Greater Toronto Area Get Face-based Search Capabilities

Two police services in the Greater Toronto Area, the York Regional Police Service and Peel Regional Police Service, have begun using facial recognition technology as part of their investigations.

Provided by IDEMIA, the technology will be used to automate image comparison processes, improving the efficiency and accuracy of mugshot searches. Both police services have stated that this decision followed consultations with the provincial information and privacy commissioner.

“The new system will scan and compare against lawfully-collected digital evidence currently stored in our databases,” Peel Police Deputy Chief Nick Milinovich said in a statement. “This new technology will not only support our criminal investigations greatly, but it will enable us to run mugshot searches faster with less human error, increasing safety in Peel Region.”

Peel police emphasized that the system will only scan and compare lawfully collected digital evidence already in their databases, without using live video or social media footage. Similarly, York police clarified that the technology would be used to compare suspect images with existing mugshots, not images from public sources.

“As we’re all too aware, criminals don’t limit their activity to a single jurisdiction,” commented York Police Chief Jim MacSween in a statement. “Partnering with Peel Regional Police is cost effective and enables us to collaborate more extensively to make both communities safer.”

Such uses of facial recognition technology have raised concerns among privacy advocates. Wendy H. Wong, a political science professor, questioned the necessity of such technology and highlighted potential risks, particularly for marginalized communities.

“I’m not sure the case for justifying the use of such technologies exists,” said Wong. “At least it hasn’t been articulated by the police departments in their statement. Part of me wants to know why they think they need facial recognition technology at this moment in time.”

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) also expressed concerns, arguing that the technology threatens privacy rights and may lead to unreasonable search and seizure, and called for clear and transparent regulations governing the use of facial recognition by law enforcement in Canada before its deployment.

This is not the fist time a Toronto-area police force has been in the news for its use of facial recognition technology. In 2022, Toronto police were revealed to have employed Clearview AI’s software to advance their investigations, including in cases where their superiors did not know that they had access to the technology.

Source: CBC News

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May 28, 2024 — by Tony Bitzionis