Montreal police have been expanding their utilization of AI-driven technologies to monitor both vehicles and individuals throughout the city, sparking concerns regarding transparency and privacy rights among the public.
A powerful camera capable of scanning and distinguishing vehicles was recently observed by a reporter from Radio-Canada on a streetlight along Henri-Bourassa Boulevard in the Rivière-des-Prairies neighborhood of Montreal. After Radio-Canada reported on the camera, it was promptly removed.
The identified device, a Cloudrunner CR-H2, was produced by Genetec, a Montreal-based company, as confirmed later by the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM). This system, similar to the contentious Flock Safety cameras widely used in the United States, not only scans license plates but also records specific vehicle attributes such as color, make, and model.
Unlike Flock cameras in the U.S., which share data in a centralized database accessible by multiple police agencies, Genetec’s system manages the collected information within its own network. SPVM spokesperson Marc-Antoine Bélanger clarified that access to the captured images is restricted to the investigators overseeing the relevant operations.
The reason cited for the removal of the camera was to safeguard the continuity of ongoing investigative strategies, according to Bélanger. The SPVM deliberately maintains secrecy around its technological tools to avoid impeding intricate investigations, as stated by Bélanger.
Privacy advocates have highlighted the lack of transparency in the introduction of new technology. Dominique Peschard, a spokesperson for the Ligue des droits et libertés, emphasized the importance of informing the public about the tools being deployed by the police without compromising their operations.
Cloudrunner cameras are part of the SPVM’s broader adoption of AI-driven technology, including the use of iMotion ROC AI software developed by Rank One Computing. While denying the utilization of facial recognition or biometric features, SPVM spokesperson Anik de Repentigny stated that the software aids investigators in analyzing extensive video footage.
The software operates on an isolated offline network, analyzing footage from various sources including the SPVM’s urban security cameras and privately collected surveillance videos with consent or a warrant. An internal privacy impact assessment by the SPVM acknowledges the civil liberties risks posed by the technology, emphasizing the importance of protecting individuals’ privacy.
The admission by the SPVM regarding the Cloudrunner camera came after initial confusion, with Montreal police Chief Fady Dagher clarifying that the device was indeed being used by the SPVM for targeting armed violence and vehicle thefts. The deployment of more cameras is possible based on the investigative needs related to armed violence, vehicle thefts, and attacks on merchants.
Genetec’s vice-president, Andrew Elvish, emphasized that the technology prioritizes privacy and logs all interactions with the gathered data. The trade-off between privacy and safety was highlighted, with the City of Montreal clarifying that it did not install the Cloudrunner camera, directing inquiries about its deployment to the SPVM.
During a past election campaign, Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada advocated for the establishment of a voluntary security camera registry to map out residents’ closed-circuit television cameras for public safety purposes. The Commission d’accès à l’information in Quebec mandates that public video surveillance must serve a legitimate and urgent objective, while emphasizing the necessity of collecting only relevant images to address specific issues.
Jean-François Latreille, a legal expert in data security and privacy, stressed the importance of stringent restrictions on the use of such tools to prevent individuals from losing control over their privacy in public spaces.