{ "dataset": { "title": "IPSSA Public-Sector Surveillance Observatory", "version": "0.1.0", "published": "2026-08-20", "lastReviewed": "2026-08-20", "recordCount": 5, "scope": "A deliberately small first release of source-backed Canadian public-sector surveillance records.", "caveat": "Inclusion documents a publicly evidenced system or use. It does not by itself imply illegality, effectiveness, or wrongdoing. Status describes what the cited record establishes, not what IPSSA assumes." }, "records": [ { "id": "rcmp-clearview-ai-2019", "title": "RCMP use of Clearview AI facial recognition", "institution": "Royal Canadian Mounted Police", "jurisdiction": { "level": "Federal", "name": "Canada" }, "capability": { "category": "Facial recognition", "name": "Face search against Clearview AI's image database" }, "vendors": ["Clearview AI"], "recordStatus": { "code": "discontinued", "label": "Discontinued" }, "evidence": { "grade": "A", "label": "Primary finding", "basis": "Formal finding by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada." }, "period": { "firstDocumented": "2019-10", "lastDocumented": "2020-07" }, "summary": "The RCMP purchased two Clearview AI licences and members also used trial accounts. The federal Privacy Commissioner found that the resulting collection contravened section 4 of the Privacy Act. Clearview stopped offering the service in Canada in July 2020.", "findings": [ "Clearview records showed 521 searches associated with RCMP accounts.", "Accounts were documented in National Headquarters, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and New Brunswick.", "The Commissioner reported that the RCMP could reasonably account for only about 15% of the searches." ], "authority": { "claimed": ["Section 18 of the RCMP Act", "Paragraph 14(1)(a) of the RCMP Regulations", "Common-law policing powers"], "assessment": "The Privacy Commissioner concluded that collecting information which Clearview had collected unlawfully fell outside a legitimate RCMP operating program or activity and contravened section 4 of the Privacy Act. The RCMP disagreed with that conclusion." }, "dataPractices": [ "Members uploaded probe images to Clearview AI.", "The service returned potential image matches and links to the pages from which images had been collected." ], "oversight": ["Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada investigation", "Special report to Parliament", "RCMP National Technology Onboarding Program commitment"], "procurement": { "contractNumber": null, "method": "Two paid licences plus trial accounts", "valueCad": null, "awardDate": "2019-10" }, "limitations": "The 521-search figure came from Clearview's records as reported by the Commissioner. The purposes of most searches were not established. This record does not imply current RCMP access to Clearview AI.", "lastReviewed": "2026-08-20", "sources": [ { "id": "opc-rcmp-clearview-finding", "title": "Police use of Facial Recognition Technology in Canada and the way forward", "publisher": "Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada", "date": "2021-06-10", "url": "https://www.priv.gc.ca/en/opc-actions-and-decisions/ar_index/202021/sr_rcmp/", "type": "Regulatory finding" } ] }, { "id": "tps-clearview-ai-2019", "title": "Toronto Police Service use of Clearview AI", "institution": "Toronto Police Service", "jurisdiction": { "level": "Municipal police", "name": "Toronto, Ontario" }, "capability": { "category": "Facial recognition", "name": "Face search against Clearview AI's image database" }, "vendors": ["Clearview AI"], "recordStatus": { "code": "discontinued", "label": "Discontinued" }, "evidence": { "grade": "A", "label": "Official institutional review", "basis": "Toronto Police Service report received by the Toronto Police Services Board." }, "period": { "firstDocumented": "2019-10", "lastDocumented": "2020-02-05" }, "summary": "An official Toronto Police Service review documented use of free Clearview AI accounts by members between October 2019 and February 5, 2020. The Service reported that it had not purchased licences or entered into an agreement with Clearview AI.", "findings": [ "The report states that 144 officers created accounts and 115 uploaded one or more images.", "The Service classified 51 users as using the tool for investigative purposes and 64 as using it for testing or familiarization.", "The Chief directed members to stop using the tool on February 5, 2020." ], "authority": { "claimed": ["Investigative policing functions"], "assessment": "The cited Board report is an institutional review, not a judicial or privacy-commissioner finding on the legality of each use. IPSSA therefore records use and response without assigning a legal conclusion." }, "dataPractices": [ "Members uploaded images to a vendor-operated face-search service.", "Search results could return potential matches and source locations from the internet." ], "oversight": ["Chief's direction to discontinue use", "Internal review", "Toronto Police Services Board public report"], "procurement": { "contractNumber": null, "method": "Free user accounts; no purchase reported", "valueCad": 0, "awardDate": null }, "limitations": "User and upload counts are taken from the Service's retrospective report. They do not establish the outcome, necessity or legality of every search.", "lastReviewed": "2026-08-20", "sources": [ { "id": "tpsb-clearview-review", "title": "Clearview Artificial Intelligence — Toronto Police Service Use, Review & Steps Forward", "publisher": "Toronto Police Service / Toronto Police Services Board", "date": "2022-02-28", "url": "https://tpsb.ca/wp-content/uploads/download-manager-files/66public_agenda_february28.pdf", "type": "Board report" } ] }, { "id": "rcmp-body-worn-cameras-dems", "title": "RCMP body-worn cameras and digital evidence management", "institution": "Royal Canadian Mounted Police", "jurisdiction": { "level": "Federal and contract policing", "name": "Canada" }, "capability": { "category": "Body-worn cameras", "name": "Body-worn video capture and cloud digital evidence management" }, "vendors": ["Axon Public Safety Canada Inc."], "recordStatus": { "code": "rollout", "label": "Active rollout" }, "evidence": { "grade": "A", "label": "Primary operational and procurement records", "basis": "Current RCMP program page, published privacy assessment, policy and CanadaBuys contract history." }, "period": { "firstDocumented": "2020-11", "lastDocumented": "2026-07" }, "summary": "The RCMP is deploying body-worn cameras and a cloud-based Digital Evidence Management System nationally. The RCMP reports that deployment began in November 2024 and that 79% of frontline members were wearing a camera as of July 2026.", "findings": [ "The planned national deployment covers approximately 10,000 cameras.", "The RCMP identifies Axon Public Safety Canada Inc. as the camera and digital evidence management contractor.", "CanadaBuys lists contract CW2340427 with a total value of CAD 154,543,384 following amendments." ], "authority": { "claimed": ["RCMP Act and applicable policing authorities", "Privacy Act controls", "RCMP Operational Manual chapter 25.5"], "assessment": "The RCMP published a privacy impact assessment and operating policy. This record documents those controls but does not independently audit compliance in individual recordings or disclosures." }, "dataPractices": [ "Audio and video are uploaded to a cloud-based digital evidence management system.", "The RCMP states that access is limited to designated users and recorded in an audit log.", "Published retention periods range from 30 days to two years or longer depending on the incident." ], "oversight": ["Published Privacy Impact Assessment", "Published operational policy", "Access and privacy request processes", "Audit logging within the evidence system"], "procurement": { "contractNumber": "CW2340427", "method": "Competitive open bidding", "valueCad": 154543384, "awardDate": "2023-11-24" }, "limitations": "The deployment percentage and program description are RCMP-reported. Contract value reflects the CanadaBuys history at review time and may change through later amendments.", "lastReviewed": "2026-08-20", "sources": [ { "id": "rcmp-bwc-current", "title": "Body-worn cameras", "publisher": "Royal Canadian Mounted Police", "date": "2026-08", "url": "https://rcmp.ca/en/body-worn-cameras", "type": "Official program page" }, { "id": "rcmp-bwc-pia", "title": "Body Worn Camera and Digital Evidence Management Service — Privacy Impact Assessment", "publisher": "Royal Canadian Mounted Police", "date": "2024-12-10", "url": "https://rcmp.ca/en/corporate-information/privacy-impact-assessments/body-worn-camera-bwc-and-digital-evidence-management-service-dems", "type": "Privacy impact assessment" }, { "id": "canadabuys-axon-cw2340427", "title": "Body Worn Cameras and DEMS Service — Contract History CW2340427", "publisher": "CanadaBuys", "date": "2024-06-27", "url": "https://canadabuys.canada.ca/en/tender-opportunities/contract-history/cw2340427-000", "type": "Procurement record" } ] }, { "id": "cbsa-airport-kiosks-egates", "title": "CBSA airport kiosks and eGates facial verification", "institution": "Canada Border Services Agency", "jurisdiction": { "level": "Federal", "name": "Canadian air ports of entry" }, "capability": { "category": "Facial verification", "name": "One-to-one comparison of a live traveller photo with an ePassport image" }, "vendors": [], "recordStatus": { "code": "active", "label": "Active" }, "evidence": { "grade": "A", "label": "Primary program and privacy records", "basis": "Current CBSA traveller-modernization page and published Privacy Impact Assessment." }, "period": { "firstDocumented": "2017-03", "lastDocumented": "2026-07" }, "summary": "CBSA airport kiosks and eGates capture a traveller's photo to verify identity. The program documentation describes a one-to-one facial comparison with the image stored on the traveller's electronic passport.", "findings": [ "CBSA states that photos and personal information are not stored on the kiosk or eGate.", "The devices encrypt and transfer data to CBSA information systems.", "The current CBSA page states that information transferred to its systems is retained for 15 years." ], "authority": { "claimed": ["CBSA border-processing mandate and authorities described in the program privacy documentation"], "assessment": "The public PIA describes the collection and privacy controls. IPSSA has not yet completed a provision-by-provision statutory authority assessment for this record." }, "dataPractices": [ "Live facial image capture at a kiosk or eGate.", "One-to-one comparison with an ePassport image.", "Encrypted transfer to CBSA systems and deletion from the device after receipt printing.", "CBSA reports a 15-year retention period in its information systems." ], "oversight": ["Published Privacy Impact Assessment", "CBSA Access to Information and Privacy processes", "Office of the Privacy Commissioner consultation described by CBSA"], "procurement": { "contractNumber": null, "method": null, "valueCad": null, "awardDate": null }, "limitations": "This record covers the public-facing identity-verification workflow. It does not yet map airport-authority suppliers, downstream referrals, every connected information holding, or enforcement disclosures.", "lastReviewed": "2026-08-20", "sources": [ { "id": "cbsa-traveller-modernization", "title": "Traveller Modernization: New tools and technologies for a faster, better and safe experience at the border", "publisher": "Canada Border Services Agency", "date": "2026-07", "url": "https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/services/border-tech-frontiere/modern-eng.html", "type": "Official program page" }, { "id": "cbsa-pik-pia", "title": "Primary Inspection Kiosk Privacy Impact Assessment — Executive Summary", "publisher": "Canada Border Services Agency", "date": "2017-03-14", "url": "https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/agency-agence/reports-rapports/pia-efvp/atip-aiprp/pik-bip-eng.html", "type": "Privacy impact assessment" } ] }, { "id": "rcmp-babel-x", "title": "RCMP use of the Babel X open-source intelligence platform", "institution": "Royal Canadian Mounted Police", "jurisdiction": { "level": "Federal", "name": "Canada" }, "capability": { "category": "Social-media and open-source intelligence", "name": "Targeted discovery and analysis of publicly available online information" }, "vendors": ["Babel Street"], "recordStatus": { "code": "documented", "label": "Documented use" }, "evidence": { "grade": "A", "label": "Primary privacy record", "basis": "RCMP-published Privacy Impact Assessment." }, "period": { "firstDocumented": null, "lastDocumented": "2022-10-25" }, "summary": "The RCMP's Federal Policing Tactical Internet Operational Support group documented use of Babel X, a vendor platform used to locate and analyze publicly available information across social media, blogs, forums, news and other online channels.", "findings": [ "The RCMP says searches can use geospatial, temporal, topic and other filters.", "The PIA identifies Babel Street as the US-based software-as-a-service provider.", "The RCMP assessed the privacy impact as moderate and expected recommendations, once fully adopted, to reduce risk to a low or acceptable level." ], "authority": { "claimed": ["Section 18 of the RCMP Act", "Paragraph 14(1)(a) of the RCMP Regulations"], "assessment": "The PIA states the claimed authority and intended investigative scope. This record does not independently determine whether a particular search was sufficiently connected to a predicated investigation." }, "dataPractices": [ "Targeted searches of publicly available internet sources.", "Potential use of geospatial and temporal parameters and topic filters.", "RCMP-collected results may be shared internally or with law-enforcement partners through secured channels." ], "oversight": ["Published Privacy Impact Assessment", "Specially trained Open-Source Intelligence Practitioners", "Privacy Act and RCMP information-management controls described in the PIA"], "procurement": { "contractNumber": null, "method": null, "valueCad": null, "awardDate": null }, "limitations": "The latest public confirmation located for this release is the 2022 PIA. The record is therefore labelled documented use rather than current active deployment. Contract value, user count and present licence status were not established in the cited source.", "lastReviewed": "2026-08-20", "sources": [ { "id": "rcmp-babel-x-pia", "title": "Babel X platform", "publisher": "Royal Canadian Mounted Police", "date": "2022-10-25", "url": "https://rcmp.ca/en/corporate-information/access-information-and-privacy/privacy-impact-assessments/babel-x-platform", "type": "Privacy impact assessment" } ] } ] }