Thread by @ICLMG

The Privacy Commissioner of Canada @PrivacyPrivee has found that the @rcmpgrcpolice broke privacy laws in their use of Clearview AI #facialrecognition technology: priv.gc.ca/en/opc-news/ne… #surveillance (1/12)

“The use of FRT by the RCMP to search through massive repositories of Canadians who are innocent of any suspicion of crime presents a serious violation of privacy,” Commissioner Daniel Therrien says. (2/12)

“A government institution cannot collect personal information from a third party agent if that third party agent collected the information unlawfully.” (bear in ming that the OPC found Clearview AI's activities unlawful in an earlier report) (3/12)

The @rcmpgrcpolice disagrees, though, saying that they can't be expected to make sure that every single third party technology they use to access doesn't violate our fundamental rights to privacy. Clearly, this is too much to ask. (4/12)

We've been asking the federal government to ban the RCMP's use of facial recognition surveilance tech. If you think the RCMP can't be trusted to protect our rights, you can send a message here: iclmg.ca/banfr/ (5/12)

The Privacy Commissioner is calling on the federal government to amend the Privacy Act to clarify that federal institutions that third parties they work with have acted lawfully - a demand we fully support. This is urgent. (6/12)

The reliance by intelligence and law enfrocement on third party tools for surveillance is growing. For example, Clearview AI isn't the only controversial third party facial recognition tool the RCMP has used: thetyee.ca/News/2021/04/2… (7/12)

While the RCMP disputes their responsibility to ensure the tools they use are lawful, they've agreed to "conducting fulsome privacy assessments of third party data collection practices" to ensure they are lawful, which many would assume to already be occuring - but isn't. (8/12)

The RCMP will also create a new oversight function to ensure new technologies are "onboarded" in a way that protects privacy rights. No word on the transparency or independence of this overisght role. (9/12)

Also very positive is that the OPC andprovincial and territorial counterparts are issuing draft guidence, as well as launching consultations, recognizing the importance of a public (ie, open) discussion on how FR tech is used. (10/12)

We will continue to advocate for a ban on facial recgnotion surveillance at the federal level, and look forward to the public consultations. To find out more and send a message, click here: iclmg.ca/banfr/ (11/12)

Oh, and if you're still not convinced, our video on the problems with FR technology may help: (12/12)

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