Evidence of meeting #20 for Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was rcmp.
A recording is available from Parliament.
11:15 a.m.
Liberal
11:15 a.m.
Liberal
Ya'ara Saks Liberal York Centre, ON
Terrific.
Could you talk about the key foundational pieces of this plan?
11:15 a.m.
Director, Strategic Services Branch, Technical Operations, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
With regard to the key pillars for the national technology onboarding program, or stakeholder outreach and partnership, which includes the training, obviously there's a policy review in development to identify all gaps with existing policy and to modify and update new ones. There's a technology assessment portion, where we built a full intake process through a series of questionnaires. Also, we're implementing a technology inventory for awareness oversight. The last component is going to be public awareness and transparency.
11:15 a.m.
Liberal
Ya'ara Saks Liberal York Centre, ON
Thank you. I have one last question.
Once this program is in place, who is accountable to it, besides the RCMP? Will partner organizations or contracted technology companies that work with the RCMP also be accountable to it?
11:15 a.m.
Director, Strategic Services Branch, Technical Operations, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
At this point, the program is being implemented for the RCMP only.
11:15 a.m.
Liberal
Ya'ara Saks Liberal York Centre, ON
There's no accountability when you partner with an organization using FRT, even with the framework in place.
11:15 a.m.
Director, Strategic Services Branch, Technical Operations, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Of course we'll do the evaluation if we're going to be leveraging, in partnership, some of these technologies going forward.
11:15 a.m.
Liberal
11:15 a.m.
Director, Strategic Services Branch, Technical Operations, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
If the RCMP is going to leverage that technology, definitely.
11:15 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Pat Kelly
You have a little bit, but probably not enough for a question and an answer. If you have a quick comment, you're welcome to make it.
11:15 a.m.
Bloc
Jean-Denis Garon Bloc Mirabel, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
My first question is for the RCMP officials.
Has the RCMP ever contracted or worked with Clearview AI? I would ask you to answer yes or no, please.
11:15 a.m.
C/Supt Gordon Sage
No, we have not.
11:15 a.m.
Bloc
Jean-Denis Garon Bloc Mirabel, QC
I must say I am surprised.
Can you explain to me why the Privacy Commissioner's report released on June 10, 2021, mentions that the RCMP confirmed that it had purchased two licences to use Clearview AI services in October 2019, and that its members had also used Clearview AI services since then?
Who is in error, the commissioner or the RCMP?
11:15 a.m.
C/Supt Gordon Sage
I thought the question was “are we presently”.
We purchased two licences back in October 2019. Two licences were used. Clearview stopped all use in Canada as of July 2020, and we have not—
11:15 a.m.
Bloc
Jean-Denis Garon Bloc Mirabel, QC
I apologize for interrupting, but our time is limited.
When one buys, pays for, and uses a licence, does that require a contract? Is it called a contract?
11:15 a.m.
C/Supt Gordon Sage
I would probably refer this question to André Boileau to answer.
11:15 a.m.
Bloc
Jean-Denis Garon Bloc Mirabel, QC
Mr. Sage, when I asked you if you had a contract with the company, you told me you did not. Then you told me that you had purchased a licence.
Can you provide the committee with the documents regarding this agreement with Clearview AI?
You say it's not a contract, but I don't know what to call it. Since these are documents that are already drawn up, it shouldn't be too difficult to get them to us.
11:15 a.m.
André Boileau Officer in Charge, National Child Exploitation Crime Centre, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
May I answer the question?