Together with Fenwick McKelvey

On February 13, 2020, the Toronto Police Services (TPS) issued a correction. Its members had used Clearview AI, an AI-based facial recognition technology (FRT). The controversy sparked widespread outcry by the media, civil society, and community groups, and put pressure on policy makers to address FRTs.

Public consultations presented a key tool for the governance of FRTs in Canada. Based on media reports, policy documents, and expert interviews we investigated four consultations held by the Toronto Police Services Board (TPSB), the Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC), and the parliamentary Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (ETHI) to understand how public opinion and outrage translate into policy.