Montreal law enforcement is discreetly expanding its array of AI-driven technologies for monitoring vehicles and individuals throughout the city, sparking concerns about transparency and privacy rights.
A high-tech camera capable of scanning and recognizing vehicles was recently observed by a Radio-Canada journalist mounted on a lamppost along Henri-Bourassa Boulevard in Montreal’s Rivière-des-Prairies district. Following Radio-Canada’s coverage of the camera, it was promptly removed.
Identified as a Cloudrunner CR-H2, the device was produced by Montreal-based company Genetec, as confirmed later by the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM). Similar to the contentious Flock Safety cameras in the United States, the system not only reads license plates but also records specific vehicle attributes such as color, make, and model.
Unlike Flock cameras that share data in a central database accessible to various police agencies, Genetec’s system manages collected information under its operator’s control. The SPVM clarified that access to the captured images is restricted to investigators handling the relevant cases.
SPVM spokesperson Marc-Antoine Bélanger stated that the camera’s removal was to protect ongoing investigative strategies. He emphasized the confidentiality of the SPVM’s technological tools to avoid impeding intricate investigations.
Advocates for privacy rights have criticized the lack of transparency surrounding the deployment of new technology, urging law enforcement to inform the public about their tool usage without jeopardizing their operations.
The SPVM’s utilization of Cloudrunner cameras is part of its broader adoption of AI-driven technology. The force acknowledged using iMotion ROC AI software by Rank One Computing to assist investigators in analyzing extensive video footage, emphasizing that facial recognition or biometric features are not employed.
The software operates on a closed, offline network separate from external databases, analyzing videos from the SPVM’s urban security cameras and private surveillance footage collected by officers with consent or a warrant.
An internal privacy impact assessment by the SPVM highlighted civil liberties risks associated with the technology, including potential investigations of innocent individuals and discrimination based on visible characteristics. The assessment noted measures to reduce discrimination risks by configuring the software to search for objects rather than identifiable traits.
Following a period of uncertainty, the SPVM acknowledged the Cloudrunner camera, emphasizing its use in combating armed violence and vehicle thefts. Public records showed a contract with Genetec for Cloudrunner units, with potential additional cameras depending on investigative requirements.
Genetec’s vice president emphasized the technology’s privacy-respecting design and stringent data logging practices. The balancing act between privacy and safety was underlined, questioning what individuals are willing to sacrifice for community security.
Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada previously advocated for a voluntary security camera registry, while Quebec’s Commission d’accès à l’information mandates that public surveillance by public bodies must serve a legitimate and necessary purpose.
Legal experts stress the necessity for strict controls on such tools to prevent individuals from losing control over their privacy in public settings.