Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada

Comments of EPIC to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada Regarding the Update to Guidance on Handling Biometric Information

May 1, 2024

By notices published October 11, 2023, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (“OPC”) has solicited input on its guidance for both public1 and private2 sector organizations handling biometric information, to close on January 12, 2024.3 These guidance documents are intended to update the biometrics guidance first published in 2011 and address evolutions in biometric technology and use as well as addressing how both the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (“PIPEDA”) and the Privacy Act intersect with biometric information processing. Pursuant to the request for input on the updated guidance documents, the Electronic Privacy Information Center (“EPIC”) submits the following comments. 

• Data Protection

• Face Surveillance & Biometrics

• International Privacy

• Surveillance Oversight

• Comments

Canadian Privacy Commissioner Warns Against Police Use of Facial Recognition in New Guidance

June 2, 2022

• Face Surveillance & Biometrics

• Surveillance Oversight

• Updates

Draft Guidance to Canadian Police Agencies on Facial Recognition

October 15, 2021

• Data Protection

• Face Surveillance & Biometrics

• International Privacy

• Surveillance Oversight

• Comments