Montreal police have been expanding their utilization of AI-driven technologies to monitor vehicles and individuals throughout the city, sparking concerns about transparency and privacy. Recently, a high-tech camera capable of scanning and recognizing vehicles was discovered by a reporter from Radio-Canada on a lamppost in Montreal’s Rivière-des-Prairies neighborhood. The camera, identified as a Cloudrunner CR-H2 manufactured by Genetec, a Montreal-based company, was swiftly removed after Radio-Canada reported its presence.
Unlike the controversial Flock Safety cameras widely used in the United States, the Genetec system not only scans license plates but also captures and stores detailed vehicle information such as color, make, and model. While Flock cameras share data in a central database accessible to multiple police forces, Genetec’s system manages collected information exclusively within its operator’s control.
According to SPVM spokesperson Marc-Antoine Bélanger, access to the captured images is limited to investigators overseeing the targeted operations. The decision to remove the camera was explained as a measure to safeguard ongoing investigative strategies. The SPVM justifies keeping its technological tools undisclosed to prevent interference with complex investigations.
Privacy advocates have criticized the lack of transparency in introducing new technologies. Dominique Peschard from the Ligue des droits et libertés, a Quebec human rights group, emphasized the importance of public awareness regarding law enforcement’s tools without compromising operational effectiveness.
The Cloudrunner cameras are part of the SPVM’s broader adoption of AI technology, including the iMotion ROC AI software developed by Rank One Computing. While the SPVM uses the software to assist in processing vast video data, it denies employing facial recognition or biometric features. The software analyzes footage from various security cameras and private surveillance videos manually collected by officers with consent or a warrant.
An internal privacy impact assessment conducted by the SPVM acknowledges the civil liberties risks associated with the technology. Concerns include the potential investigation of innocent bystanders and discrimination based on visible social characteristics. Despite these risks, the assessment suggests configuring the software to search for objects rather than identifiable traits to mitigate discrimination concerns.
Following a period of confusion, Montreal police Chief Fady Dagher confirmed the SPVM’s use of the Cloudrunner camera for targeting armed violence and vehicle thefts. The department has procured multiple Cloudrunner units, with the possibility of adding more as needed for investigations.
Genetec’s vice-president, Andrew Elvish, assured that the technology prioritizes privacy and logs every interaction with collected data. He emphasized the balance between privacy and community safety, emphasizing the trade-off in ensuring public security. The City of Montreal clarified that it had not installed the Cloudrunner camera and directed inquiries about deployment to the SPVM.
Amid calls for stricter oversight, legal experts stress the critical need to regulate the use of such technologies to safeguard individual privacy in public spaces. Montreal’s efforts to create a voluntary security camera registry have raised discussions on balancing public safety and privacy concerns. The Commission d’accès à l’information in Quebec mandates stringent guidelines for video surveillance by public bodies, emphasizing the necessity of collecting only essential data for targeted problem-solving.