Use of facial recognition by police forces in the public space in Quebec and Canada: Elements of comparison with the United States and Europe - English Summary

Scope and Objectives

This document presents,  in the form of an executive summary and recommendations, the main issues in the use of facial recognition by law enforcement agencies in the public space in Quebec and Canada, in comparison with other provinces, Europe and the United States. In a context where the use of this technology is increasingly in question, it is advisable to conduct a reflection prior to its deployment, in order to eliminate or minimize the risks incurred, in particular for individual rights and freedoms. The main objectives of the document are then:

1. To enlighten legislators on what this technology is and the risks involved, in particular the risks of infringing on individual rights and freedoms protected by the Charters of Canada and Quebec.
2. To present the solutions already implemented to consider those that minimize the risks and intrusion of this technology on privacy, in order to set the conditions for transparency and better social acceptability.

This document is an executive summary of a full report (only available in French)

To consult the full report (in French)