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ARTICLE · 31 JULY 2025

Identity Verification And Facial Recognition Systems: Key Takeaways From A Recent Decision By The Quebec Privacy Regulator

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On February 18, 2025, the Quebec privacy regulator, the Commission d'accès à l'information du Québec, issued an important decision under the Act to Establish a Legal Framework for Information Technology (the "Quebec.

CanadaPrivacy
Amir Kashdaran
Amir Kashdaran
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On February 18, 2025, the Quebec privacy regulator, the Commission d'accès à l'information du Québec (the "CAI"), issued an important decision under the Act to Establish a Legal Framework for Information Technology (the "Quebec IT Act").

The case involved Metro Inc. (the "Company"), which intended to launch, as a pilot project, a database containing the biometric characteristics and measurements of individuals captured by surveillance cameras (the "Biometric Database"), in support of implementing facial recognition systems in certain retail locations. Broadly, the Company's objective was to use a facial recognition system linked to the Biometric Database to prevent and detect shoplifting and fraud in designated stores.

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