Volume IV

Issue : 6: March 23, 2006

• Lawsuit Attacks Googles Secret Formula
• Court Rules Unauthorized Website Scraping May Be Actionable as Unjust Enrichment
• BC Court Finds Source Code Within Definition of Software at Time of Sale of Business
• UK Court Ruled ISPs Not Liable For Posting of Defamatory Content
• Canadian Cyberstalker Jailed
• OPC Issues Guidelines for the Use of Video Cameras in Public Spaces
• Class Action Launched Against Music Labels Alleging Price Fixing in Online Market
• Study Concludes RFID Tags May Be Vulnerable To Viruses
• European Commission Begins Public Inquiry into RFID Tag Technology
• OPP Cracks Down on Wireless Internet Theft
• Sony Faces Setback in Patent Battle Over Vibrotactile Technology
• Google Settles Click Fraud Suit For $90 Million
• Quebec Company Fined for Evading Private Copying Levies

Home > Volume IV > Issue 6: March 23, 2006 > OPC Issues Guidelines for the Use of Video Cameras in Public Spaces

OPC Issues Guidelines for the Use of Video Cameras in Public Spaces

Changes in technology, related both to cameras and to facial recognition software and other computer programs, have made surveillance easier. As a result, the use of video surveillance to detect, deter and prosecute crime has increased significantly in Canada, the U.S. and the United Kingdom. Video surveillance nonetheless presents a challenge to privacy, freedom of movement and freedom of association. The potential for scrutiny of persons in public spaces, the vast number of which are law-abiding citizens, is increasing, and the level of privacy and anonymity in people’s daily lives, is decreasing.

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) has issued guidelines on the use of video cameras by police to monitor public spaces. The guidelines, however, do not bind either the RCMP in establishing video surveillance, or the Privacy Commissioner in investigating it.

For a copy of the guidelines, visit:

http://www.privcom.gc.ca/information/guide/vs_060301_e.asp