Sen. Ed Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat, says a New York-based company’s facial recognition technology “appears to pose particularly chilling privacy risks.” In a letter to Hoan Ton-That, the chief executive of Clearview AI, which provides its technology to the law enforcement community, Markey also says it could be exploited by criminals or foreign adversaries. [node:read-more:link]
Having initially denied that it was using facial recognition technology, the RCMP recently confirmed that it had been using it for some time. The program evidently has accumulated large amounts of personal images from social media and in confirming that it has been using the technology, the RCMP said “some municipal police” also use it. [node:read-more:link]
Significant resourcing challenges” could compromise RCMP efforts to tackle terrorism and cybercrime, the force says in its latest annual planning report to Parliament. It also says the focus will be on high-priority investigations related to terrorism, foreign interference, organized crime, money laundering, and cybercrime. [node:read-more:link]
Having confirmed that it has been using Clearview AI facial recognition technology for some time, the RCMP now says it will limit it to “limited and specific circumstances,” A spokesperson says the focus will be on “exigent circumstances for victim identification” in cases of suspected sexual exploitation of children or where a threat of grievous bodily harm or a threat to life is considered imminent.” [node:read-more:link]
The union representing more than 19,000 RCMP personnel is pressing for clearer guidelines on when body-worn cameras can be turned off. National Police Federation President Brian Sauvé says that while they “contribute to a greater level of context, transparency and accountability for both police and citizens,” there also are “very real privacy issues” to resolve. [node:read-more:link]
In response to multiple appeals from community groups to change the way police respond to mental health calls, the Ottawa Police announced it will establish a 'guiding council' to oversee the development of a community-led mental health strategy. A secretariat funded by police, public health and the city, will also be created. [node:read-more:link]
Much of the Vancouver International Airport precinct and adjacent suburbs were essentially shut down for a while May 9 as police handled what was believed to be a gang-related killing outside the main terminal. The suspects in the shooting managed to evade police pursuit and their getaway vehicle was later found burned 28km from the crime scene. [node:read-more:link]
Police in Tunis are using at least one home-grown robot to ensure that residents of the Tunisian capital are complying with a COVID-19 lockdown. Developed by Enova Robotics and using thermal imaging and radar, the four-wheeled unit enables monitoring personnel to ask pedestrians to present ID and other documents to justify their presence outdoors. [node:read-more:link]
Effective immediately, the sale, transport, importation and use of some 1,500 types of “assault style” firearms are now prohibited in Canada. There will be a two-year amnesty for current owners to comply with the prohibition, and Prime Minister Trudeau says that “fair compensation” will be forthcoming. [node:read-more:link]
Legal experts are parsing President Donald Trump’s threat to deploy the U.S. military to put down continued and sometimes violent protests in several cities after the death of a black man in police custody. Even though the 1878 Posse Comitatus Act precludes that kind of intervention, the 1807 Insurrection Act does give the President authority to deploy federal forces in states unable to put down an insurrection or where federal law is being defied. The exports do agree that legal challenges are inevitable and some state governors are calling Trump’s move an overreaction. [node:read-more:link]
A series of often violent protests in several major cities following the death of another black man in police custody in Minneapolis prompted President Donald Trump to insist 1 June that state governors call out their National Guard units to resolve the situations. “If a city or state refuses . . . I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them.” [node:read-more:link]
A series of often violent protests in several major cities following the death of another black man in police custody in Minneapolis prompted President Donald Trump to insist 1 June that state governors call out their National Guard units to resolve the situations. “If a city or state refuses . . . I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them.” [node:read-more:link]
Manitoba resident Corey Hurren, a Canadian Ranger and former regular member of the Canadian Armed Forces, is being held by RCMP after a pickup truck was used 02 July to ram through the games at Rideau Hall. The driver, who was reportedly armed with a long gun, was arrested without incident after moving on foot toward the official residences of the Governor General and the Prime Minister, neither of whom was home. [node:read-more:link]
U.S. Army Gen Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, says the Department of Defense is taking a close look at how National Guard operations could be complicated in situations where police are dressed and equipped like troops. The decision was prompted by controversy over whether Guard personnel had recently helped to remove protestors near the White House and Milley told Congress 9 July that it is critical to have “a clear definition between that which is military and that which is police.” [node:read-more:link]
