TORONTO -- Technology capable of scanning a person鈥檚 face and linking them to a database of thousands of other people has been introduced in Canadian airports and shopping malls, a fact that a leading Canadian privacy expert considers alarming.
Former Ontario information and privacy commissioner Ann Cavoukian says Canadians may not realize just how prevalent the technology is and how that personal information can be used once collected.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very concerning to me, because your facial image is the most sensitive biometric and can be used to accurately 鈥� or, worse 鈥� inaccurately connect you with certain events,鈥� Cavoukian, now executive director of the Global Privacy & Security by Design Centre, told CTV鈥檚 Your Morning on Monday.
Earlier this month, the Vancouver International Airport announced that it would become the first airport in Canada to introduce facial recognition technology for Nexus cardholders who return to Canada from abroad. Facial-recognition kiosks will identify passengers enrolled in the Nexus program, replacing the airport鈥檚 existing iris scanners.
Two malls in Calgary came under fire last year after it was revealed that directory kiosks were taking photos of shoppers鈥� faces. The technology was suspended after the Federal Privacy Commissioner and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta opened up investigations.
Cavoukian said more consideration needs to be given to just how damaging the technology can be.
She pointed to that found that facial recognition technology used by police flagged innocent people as suspects four out of five times.
鈥淚magine trying to clear your name when police said, 鈥楴o, you鈥檙e the one who did this.鈥� It can just be so damaging,鈥� she said.
So far, no Canadian police force has announced plans to use the technology. Such a move could open up the possibility for innocent people to find themselves wrapped up in police investigations, Cavoukian said.
鈥淚f the police are using this, they can get a warrant. If they have probable cause that a crime has been committed, you go to a judge, you get a warrant. It鈥檚 not hard to do. Then they鈥檙e authorized to investigate.鈥�
Then there鈥檚 the issue of stolen identity. With little oversight in Canada, facial recognition could be highly damaging if someone obtained an individual鈥檚 facial recognition information.
鈥淲hen I was commissioner, a number of victims of identity theft came to me saying that their identities had been stolen. Try to clear your name 鈥� it鈥檚 a nightmare,鈥� Cavoukian said.
Similar concerns were raised last month among concert-goers and musicians in the U.S. after live-entertainment companies AEG Presents and Live Nation revealed plans to scan festivalgoers with facial recognition technology. Both companies stepped away from those plans following widespread criticism.
