Montreal police are expanding their use of AI-driven technology to monitor vehicles and individuals throughout the city, sparking concerns about transparency and privacy rights among the public.
Recently, a high-tech camera capable of scanning and identifying vehicles was discovered on a lamppost along Henri-Bourassa Boulevard in Montreal’s Rivière-des-Prairies neighborhood by a Radio-Canada reporter. The camera, known as Cloudrunner CR-H2, is produced by Genetec, a Montreal-based company, as confirmed by the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM).
Unlike the controversial Flock Safety cameras in the United States, the Cloudrunner system not only scans license plates but also records specific vehicle details such as color, make, and model. The collected information is managed by the operator of the system, in contrast to Flock cameras that share data in a central accessible database.
SPVM spokesperson Marc-Antoine Bélanger stated that access to the captured images is restricted to investigators handling the specific cases. The camera was removed to safeguard ongoing investigative strategies, according to Bélanger.
Despite the lack of transparency surrounding the deployment of new technology, privacy advocates, including Dominique Peschard from the Ligue des droits et libertés, emphasize the importance of informing the public about the tools being utilized while safeguarding privacy rights.
The SPVM’s adoption of the Cloudrunner cameras is part of a larger initiative involving AI-driven technology. The police force acknowledged using iMotion ROC AI software by Rank One Computing for video analysis purposes, clarifying that facial recognition and biometric capabilities are not being employed.
An internal privacy impact assessment highlighted potential civil liberties risks associated with the technology, emphasizing the importance of minimizing the impact on innocent individuals and preventing discrimination based on visible characteristics.
Montreal police Chief Fady Dagher recently acknowledged the use of the Cloudrunner camera for targeting armed violence and vehicle thefts, following initial confusion about the device’s presence. The SPVM is considering expanding the use of such cameras based on the requirements of ongoing investigations.
Genetec’s vice-president, Andrew Elvish, stressed the technology’s focus on respecting privacy and ensuring data interactions are logged. The delicate balance between public safety and individual privacy remains a focal point in the ongoing discussions surrounding AI-driven surveillance tools.
In adherence to regulatory guidelines set by the Commission d’accès à l’information in Quebec, organizations deploying video surveillance in public spaces must have a legitimate objective, collect only necessary data, and ensure stringent restrictions on the use of such tools to protect individual privacy.