I realized a couple of months ago that the TTC in Toronto had cameras not only in the subway but streetcars and buses. I've been wondering if these cameras use face recognition software.
I've found an online PDF of thier February 17, 1020 meeing on suicide prevention. The document can be found at
www3.ttc.ca/About_the_TTC/Commission_rep...ay_Suicide_Preve.pdf
I was unclear from this if these cameras use face recognition technology but pages 6 and 7 give me that impression. To quote a passage from that document
"Recently, the trend has moved to enhanced optical detection through the use of
conventional CCTV cameras, running the feeds though advanced computer recognition
software. The sensitivity of these systems allows for the discrimination of different sizes
of objects or personnel"
I then phoned the Privacy Commissioner Ontario and he said he did a report on this subject. The report can be found at
www.ipc.on.ca/images/Findings/mc07-68-ttc.pdf
Although I'm still readng this document, it does appear that the cameras do face recognition. On page 16/48, it discusses "Protected Surveillance Using Secure Visual Object Coding"
Basically these camera use security to block out people's faces/bodies in the attempt to protect privacy. The camera information is stored (I forget for how long) and people's faces/bodies are blocked out and can only be seen when a security code is entered. The code is only accessable by a few people.
So these cameras do face recognition and save the information but with claims that alot of it is encrypted and eventually destroyed.
In addition there is a passage that reads "In addition, once a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is signed between the Toronto Police Services Board and the TTC, the Police will have direct remote access to the recorded video surveillance images collected in the subway system."
I'm going to have to give this documents another good read but I thought I'd share what I found.
