Facial Recognition Technology Policy Roundtable: What We Heard

Taylor Owen, Derek Ruths, Sonja Solomun, Charles Finlay, Karim Bardeesy, Sumit Bhatia, Sam Andrey, Yuan Stevens, Joe Masoodi, Fahmida Kamali, Braelyn Guppy, Raisa Chowdhury, Ellen Rowe
February 16, 2021

Image source: Cybersecure Policy Exchange

Executive Summary

In November 2020, the Cybersecure Policy Exchange at Ryerson University and the Tech Informed Policy initiative at McGill University’s Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy co-organized a roundtable on the governance of facial recognition technology (FRT). The event brought together 30 expert stakeholders and government officials under Chatham House Rules, to examine the implications of a temporary prohibition on the public sector’s use of FRT in Canada. 

After significant developments in the last several years regarding the push for — and against — the use of FRT in Canada and the U.S., the Tech Informed Policy initiative released two policy briefings in August 2020. The first briefing describes the implications for a temporary prohibition or moratorium on the Canadian public sector’s use of FRT.

The second briefing explores conditions under which a moratorium could be lifted.2 The first of these briefings served as the basis of discussion for the roundtable event.

This report summarizes what we heard at the event, organized by: how facial recognition software is being used by the public sector, including its potential benefits and risks; views on the push for a limited prohibition on its use; and options to mitigate risk before and during the use of FRT for consideration, as proposed by the event’s participants.