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Surveillance & Technology

Technology can, and does, support and enhance human endeavors. But it also has the capacity to render us increasingly vulnerable to a range of surveillance activities. Everything from our cell phones (do you know what information about you every app you download collects?) to our baby monitors (have you changed the password or is your livestream viewable on the internet?) to our internet browsers, our connected cars, our video doorbells, and our wearable fitness trackers and more are not just capable of collecting increasingly granular information about us, they’re deliberately designed to allow their vendors to profit from it. 

Whether it’s location tracking, communications interception or eavesdropping devices, facial recognition or other biometric tools, or just the hoovering up of our ‘data exhaust’ as we live our lives online, technological progress has also meant technological incursions into our privacy. And these technologies are developed and deployed much more quickly than our social, political, educational, or legal systems can react, leaving dangerous gaps in our laws and holes in our personal protections against excessive collection and use of our information. 

CCLA believes that privacy is a precondition, not a barrier, to innovation in tech. We all deserve technology designed to maximize benefits and minimize harms, to individuals and to society as a whole. 

Learn More About Our Work In Surveillance & Technology
Our Recent Cases and Reports

View our latest work and activity.

Toronto's Smart City 

Waterfront Toronto contracted with Google’s sibling Sidewalk Labs to create a smart city project in downtown Toronto. This project would be a sensor-laden neighbourhood, collecting data on people who live, work, or visit the area. Losing the ability to be a face in the crowd, and so much of our privacy, is what’s at stake. So we launched a legal action to reset the project.

VIEW CASE

Toronto’s Smart City

Waterfront Toronto contracted with Google’s sibling Sidewalk Labs to create a smart city project in downtown Toronto. This project would be a sensor-laden neighbourhood, collecting data on people who live, work, or visit the area. Losing the ability to be a face in the crowd, and so much of our privacy, is what’s at stake. So we launched a legal action to reset the project.

Our Work in Surveillance & Technology

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CCLA Joins Call from Civil Society to Withdraw AIDA from Bill C-27

AIDA is a disaster for privacy and human rights. The Parliamentary process is a disaster…
April 25, 2024

CCLA’s submission for generative AI and copyright consultation

In October 2023, the Government of Canada, as part of a broader effort to modernize…
January 17, 2024

Government Legislation on FRT is ‘Dangerous’ Say Civil Society Groups and Scholars

Toronto, ON — The Right2YourFace Coalition, a group made up of prominent civil society groups…
November 1, 2023

Advocates demand proper consideration for AI regulation

Canadians deserve to be protected from AI overreach, but Bill C-27’s Artificial Intelligence and Data…
September 25, 2023

CCLA’s Submission on Bill C-26 Regarding Privacy Concerns in Federal Cybersecurity Legislation

Daniel Konikoff (Interim Director of the Privacy, Technology & Surveillance program) and Tashi Alford-Duguid (Staff…
September 22, 2023

CCLA’s Submission on Bill C-27, the Digital Charter Implementation Act

Daniel Konikoff (Interim Director of the Privacy, Technology & Surveillance program) and Tashi Alford-Duguid (Staff…
September 20, 2023

Sign our AI Regulation Petition

CCLA has put out a petition on how AI regulation needs to put human rights…
July 17, 2023

CCLA Demands Action on Facial Recognition Technology and the Growing Power of Artificial Intelligence

Toronto, ON — The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) has joined the “Right 2 Your…
June 21, 2023

Civil liberties groups recommend fixes for controversial cybersecurity legislation ahead of detailed Commons scrutiny

The House of Commons Public Safety Committee is tasked with scrutinizing Bill C-26, which has…
June 20, 2023

CCLA to Hamilton Police: Cease and Desist Drone Program

TORONTO — The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) is demanding the Hamilton Police Service (HPS) immediately…
June 7, 2023

CCLA reacts to OIPC (BC) Announcement on Liberal Party of Canada’s Use of FRT

TORONTO —Tashi Alford-Duguid, Staff lawyer at the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) made the following…
April 26, 2023

Guest Blog: Artificial Intelligence Developers Must Ensure Commitment to Meaningful Consent

Jonathan A. Obar, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication & Media…
February 14, 2023

International Report: Under Surveillance: (Mis)use of Technologies in Emergency Responses

CCLA’s international partners publish a report on global (mis)use of technologies during the pandemic The…
December 15, 2022

Facial recognition explained: How is FRT used in Canada?

The impacts of FRT become more elevated depending upon the context in which they are…
December 6, 2022

Fix C-26: Cybersecurity Bill is Short on Rights Protections and Accountability

Bill C-26 is yet another example, in an increasingly long list, of legislation that would…
October 17, 2022

ETHI Report on Facial Recognition Technology Released

Canada lacks an appropriate legal framework to regulate facial recognition technology, and without it, there…
October 5, 2022

Joint Letter of Concern regarding Bill C-26

September 28, 2022 To: The Honourable Marco E. L. Mendicino, P.C., M.P., Minister of Public…
September 28, 2022

Privacy and virtual healthcare: report launch

September 13, 2022--CCLA is delighted to launch the report Virtual Healthcare Services in Canada: Digital…
September 13, 2022

CCLA Calls for Moratorium on RCMP Surveillance ‘Tools’

Brenda McPhail, Director of Privacy Technology and Surveillance Program for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association,…
August 9, 2022

The Guardian: ‘Asleep at the wheel’: Canada police’s spyware admission raises alarm

An admission from Canada’s national police force that it routinely uses powerful spyware to surveil…
July 15, 2022

Canadian Civil Liberties Association launches constitutional challenge to Ontario’s strip search law

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association and a woman with personal experience have launched a major…
June 20, 2022

CCLA Presents to ETHI on Facial Recognition

CCLA’s Privacy Director Brenda McPhail was invited to speak to the Standing Committee on Access…
March 30, 2022

Residents of BC, AB, QC protected from Clearview AI by binding orders from their Privacy Regulators

CCLA welcomes today’s decisions issued by the BC Information and Privacy Commissioner and the Alberta…
December 14, 2021

CCLA and Privacy International collaborate on submissions regarding facial recognition guidelines for police agencies

The proposed OPC guidance on police use of FRT technology can help ensure police agencies’…
November 17, 2021

CCLA to Minister: Choosing not to be vaccinated should not disentitle you from employment insurance

CCLA has written to Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, urging…
November 2, 2021

CCLA’s Submission on Canada’s Proposed Approach to Addressing Harmful Content Online

Prior to the election, the government of Canada initiated a consultation on a proposed approach…
September 28, 2021

Fear, Loathing and the Law: Pushing the Limits of Legislating “Good” Behaviour

CCLA Essay by Cara Zwibel, Director of Fundamental Freedoms and Brenda McPhail, Director of Privacy…
September 20, 2021
COVID Vaccine Passport

FAQ: Vaccine Passports

The lines are being drawn between those who support and oppose some version of a…
August 17, 2021

Reaction To New Vaccine Passport ‘Benefits’

As Manitoba announces new “benefits” to be conferred on the fully vaccinated, the questions we…
June 24, 2021

‘Cease And Desist’ – Liberal Party Must Halt Use Of Facial Fingerprinting

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) is calling on the Liberal Party of Canada to…
June 23, 2021

Letter to Manitoba re: Vaccine Passports

We are writing regarding the Manitoba government’s plan to provide individuals with proof of vaccination…
June 17, 2021

RCMP Use of Face Recognition Tool Violated Privacy Law

Today Canada’s Privacy Commissioner released the Special Report to Parliament on Police Use of Facial…
June 10, 2021

CCLA contributes to consultations on Ontario’s AI Framework

CCLA was pleased to have the opportunity to participate in the Ontario government's consultation on…
June 4, 2021

Clearview AI Engaged In “Mass Surveillance”

Clearview AI broke Canadian law when it scraped the internet for 3 billion photos of…
February 3, 2021

Interim Report: Facial Recognition Technology in Canada

What is Facial Recognition Technology and where do we find it? Written for the CCLA…
January 4, 2021
INCLO InFocus FacialRecognition Report

In Focus: Facial Recognition Tech Stories and Rights Harms from Around the World, (INCLO)

Facial Recognition Tech Stories and Rights Harms from Around the World, Published by the International…
January 1, 2021

CCLA Debates Vaccine Passports on TVO.org: Our Letter that Sparked the Debate

We are writing you about the bad idea floated from an Ontario executive podium respecting…
December 14, 2020

Proof of Vaccination

Ontario’s health minister openly suggested that people who don’t have proof they’ve chosen to receive…
December 9, 2020

Secret Evidence in The Age of Artificial Intelligence

Today’s most popular form of artificial intelligence (AI) – machine learning – is often called…
November 13, 2020

Submission to the Special Committee Reviewing BC’s Personal Information Protection Act

On August 14th, CCLA made submissions to the Special Committee to Review BC’s Personal Information…
October 23, 2020

Can City Hall ‘Deploy’ Contact Tracing App on Its Phones?

Ahead of a second wave of the coronavirus in Canada, Toronto’s Deputy Mayor Stephen Holiday is asking…
September 25, 2020

Montreal makes history to promote transparency and protect privacy.

You probably missed the landmark decision by a major Canadian law-maker this week, striking a…
September 24, 2020

Montreal Surveillance Tech Moratorium Presser

CCLA urges Montréal City council to protect their constituents from identity and personal data theft.
September 18, 2020

Montreal Councillor Rotrand’s Initiative to Mandate Accountability & Transparency

We support Councillor Rotrand's initiative to mandate public accountability and transparency for surveillance technologies purchased,…
September 17, 2020

What Do We Want? Stronger Privacy Laws. When Do We Want Them? Now

It has become routine to start all commentary on privacy laws in Canada with a…
August 26, 2020

Order a Ride and Say Goodbye to Privacy

The CCLA recently submitted its feedback on the draft regulations for Québec’s new Act respecting…
August 12, 2020

Facial Fingerprinting Pilot by Police Halted by UK Court of Appeal

There was a huge victory today for privacy rights against police use of facial recognition…
August 11, 2020

Letter to Bill Blair

Subject: Ban on use of facial recognition surveillance by federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
July 8, 2020

Contact Tracing App in Canada: To Download or Not

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) will challenge the Government of Nova Scotia’s exceptionally broad injunction limiting…
July 3, 2020

Let’s Not Forget, We Won

June 25th was supposed to be Decision Day, the day Sidewalk Labs and Waterfront Toronto would…
June 26, 2020

The Canadian Contact Tracing Experiment Begins

A social experiment in technologically-assisted tracking for public health purposes is about to being in…
June 18, 2020

“Immunity Passports”: a New Journey to Inequality

As we flounder about looking for ways out of the COVID-19 climate of fear, and…
May 26, 2020

Data Surveillance by Canadian Governments as COVID Response: CCLA’s Privacy Protection Prescription

We are writing you about the use of technologically-mediated surveillance as a public health response…
April 20, 2020

Statement On The Reset Of The Quayside Project

Today’s news that Sidewalk Labs has withdrawn from pursuing the project is a victory for…
March 7, 2020

Make the Choice: Put the Horse Back in the Barn

Clearview AI is a tech company that the New York Times reports has scraped 3…
January 1, 2020

Haunting Decisions Due October 31

October 31 is an important decision-day for the Waterfront Toronto/Sidewalk Labs smart city— a fitting…
October 29, 2019

CCLA Joins Rights Groups Challenging Mass Surveillance In Europe

Following last year’s victory in which the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) found the…
July 10, 2019

CCLA v. Waterfront Toronto, et. aI: Public Court Documents

CCLA v. Waterfront Toronto, et. aI: Public Court Documents
June 24, 2019

CCLA Written Submission to Toronto City Council Executive Committee

CCLA provided a written submission to Toronto’s Executive Committee for their consideration during their recent…
June 6, 2019

Deputation on Facial Recognition System

What’s the problem with facial recognition technology as a police surveillance and investigation tool? It’s…
May 30, 2019

Canada’s Privacy Commissioner’s Office is Furious, and He’s Deleting Their Facebook Page

A blistering report issued by Canada’s and British Columbia’s Privacy Commissioners accuses Facebook of violating…
April 25, 2019

CCLA at The Supreme Court: Privacy Lost

It’s a loss for privacy in a disappointing Supreme Court decision released April 18 in…
April 19, 2019

Canada Responds to CCLA’s Demand for Waterfront Toronto Quayside Project Reset

Canada Responds to CCLA’s Demand for Waterfront Toronto Quayside Project Reset
April 18, 2019

CCLA Commences Proceedings Against Waterfront Toronto

Today, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association along with co-applicant Lester Brown, commenced proceedings against Waterfront…
April 16, 2019

Demanding Our Privacy Rights Get a Seat at The Table

CCLA is going to court to reset the Waterfront Toronto/Sidewalk Labs smart city project.  A…
April 16, 2019

Open Letter from CCLA: Calling for a Reset on Waterfront Toronto

Dear Prime Minister, Premier and Mayor, We are writing to you about the Smart City initiative for the Toronto Eastern…
March 5, 2019

Big Brother Watch and Others v. the United Kingdom

ECHR Grand Chamber Panel Decision
February 14, 2019

Privacy Wins: Jarvis Decision Confirms Privacy Rights Exist in Public Spaces

A teacher who argued at the Supreme Court that his secret filming of girls’ cleavage…
February 14, 2019

Shotspotter is not coming to Toronto, and that’s a win

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) will challenge the Government of Nova Scotia’s exceptionally broad injunction limiting…
February 14, 2019

Money (That’s What They Want)

It shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone that the collection of our private, personal…
February 13, 2019

Mass surveillance challenge proceeds to Europe’s highest human rights court

CCLA and 9 partner organisations have made another step forward in our attempt to stop…
February 5, 2019

Governing by Mercenary

As with the U.S. over-reliance upon private contractors to wage wars, in Canada, we too…
January 29, 2019

We’re not done talking about privacy in the smart city

Since Sidewalk Labs and Waterfront Toronto announced their agreement to develop a plan for a…
January 24, 2019

Presto Change-O Privacy Disappears!

December 31 is the end of an era for Torontonians. It’s the last day, ever,…
January 2, 2019

Mass Surveillance INCLO Case Continues

Mass surveillance violates international privacy rights and is fundamentally incompatible with the rights to free…
December 11, 2018

Auditor General To Toronto’s Smart Cities: Not So Fast

Ontario’s Auditor General this week took a provincial agency to task for its role in…
December 6, 2018

CCLA, INCLO and Others Welcome Historic Win Against Mass Surveillance in UK

In a landmark win for seven INCLO members, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR)…
September 14, 2018

A Quick Win For Privacy Rights: CCLA vs. Cadillac Fairview

Cadillac Fairview, the company that owns numerous popular malls, said it will pause the use…
August 7, 2018

CCLA Urges Toronto to Delay Purchase of Gunshot-Location Technology ShotSpotter

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association has serious concerns regarding the impact of new police surveillance…
July 23, 2018

Yorku Protesters: You Have The Power. We Have Your Back (Survey)

I am writing to you about disturbing reports regarding the reported activities of security personnel…
March 27, 2018

Lessons to Learn From The Facebook / Cambridge Analytica Scandal

There is a lot of outrage, blame, and more than a few “I told you…
March 21, 2018

Mass Surveillance and Bulk Collection in Bill C-59

One of the most insidious elements of Bill C-59 is the way it facilitates bulk…
September 12, 2017

Canadians’ Right To Privacy In Cell Phone Data Confirmed…

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) will challenge the Government of Nova Scotia’s exceptionally broad injunction limiting…
January 14, 2016

Summary: International Covenant On Civil And Political Rights (Iccpr)

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) will challenge the Government of Nova Scotia’s exceptionally broad injunction limiting…
October 27, 2015
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