By Canadian Press

B.C. privacy watchdog investigating federal Liberals over facial recognition software

Aug 6, 2021 | 10:32 AM

OTTAWA — British Columbia’s privacy watchdog is launching an investigation into the federal Liberal party’s use of facial recognition technology to pick candidates for the next election.

B.C. information and privacy commissioner Michael McEvoy’s office confirmed the investigation today following a complaint from the Canadian Civil Liberties Association.

The Liberals have been using the technology to verify the identity of those eligible to vote in meetings to nominate candidates who will run for the party in the next federal campaign.

Those nomination meetings are normally held in person, but have moved online this summer because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The civil liberties association says while it supports the need to identify participants in nomination meetings, facial recognition technology comes with privacy and reliability concerns.

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The Liberals have said they consulted the guidance issued by the federal privacy commissioner on the appropriate use of the technology before adopting the software.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 6, 2021.

The Canadian Press