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This guidance is for federal, provincial, regional and municipal police agencies on the use of facial recognition. It was not written for other public organizations outside of the police that are involved in law enforcement activities (for example, border control), nor for private-sector organizations that carry out similar activities (for example, private security). However, these organizations must still ensure their compliance with all applicable laws, including privacy and human rights laws. Sections of this guidance may be helpful for that purpose.

In a June 2008 joint resolution, Information and Privacy Ombudspersons and Commissioners from across Canada agreed to work together to implement public education activities meant to increase awareness among children and young people of the privacy risks inherent to their online activities.

In an October 2019 joint resolution, Information and Privacy Ombudspersons and Commissioners from across Canada urged their governments to modernize access to information and privacy laws.

In an April 2012 joint resolution, Information and Privacy Ombudspersons and Commissioners from across Canada urged the Government of Canada to ensure Canadian legal standards apply to the Canada-US "Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness Action Plan".

In an October 2013 joint resolution, Information and Privacy Ombudspersons and Commissioners from across Canada urged their governments to modernize access to information and privacy laws.

In a September 2010 joint resolution, Information and Privacy Ombudspersons and Commissioners from across Canada called on the federal and all provincial and territorial governments to declare the importance of open government.

In a June 2007 joint resolution, Information and Privacy Ombudspersons and Commissioners from across Canada called on the Government of Canada and the Parliament of Canada to refer the "Passenger Protect Program" to a Parliamentary committee for comprehensive public scrutiny, debate and report to Parliament, as well as other actions.

In a February 2008 joint resolution, Information and Privacy Ombudspersons and Commissioners from across Canada expressed concerns and called on governments to initiate certain actions regarding enhanced driver's licences.

In an October 2014 joint resolution, Information and Privacy Ombudspersons and Commissioners from across Canada urged their respective governments to review and modernize their information management frameworks.

In a January 2016 joint resolution, Information and Privacy Ombudspersons and Commissioners from across Canada called on governments at all levels to respect and promote privacy and access to information rights and principles when embarking on information sharing initiatives.

In a September 2009 joint resolution, Information and Privacy Ombudspersons and Commissioners from across Canada urged Parliament to ensure that the proposed legislation to create an expanded surveillance regime strikes the right balance between individual privacy and the legitimate needs of the authorities.

Canada’s Information and Privacy regulators called on their respective governments to respect Canadians' quasi-constitutional rights to privacy and access to information. The regulators took note of the serious impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the right of access to information and privacy rights in Canada and called on governments to use the lessons learned during the pandemic to improve these rights.

In an October 2017 joint resolution, Information and Privacy Ombudspersons and Commissioners from across Canada urged their governments to safeguard independent review of solicitor-client privilege claims.

In a September 2018 joint resolution, Information and Privacy Ombudspersons and Commissioners from across Canada urged their governments to require political parties to comply with globally recognized privacy principles.

In a January 2016 statement, Information and Privacy Ombudspersons and Commissioners from across Canada called on their respective governments to create a legislated duty requiring all public entities to document matters related to their deliberations, actions and decisions.

In a September 2009 joint resolution, Information and Privacy Ombudspersons and Commissioners from across Canada called on Ministries of Health to keep Commissioners and the public informed of their progress toward developing and implementing personal health records.

The following page includes joint resolutions agreed upon by federal, provincial and territorial Information and Privacy Commissioners and Ombudspersons across Canada. The information is linked to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada's website. The page also includes a Memorandum of Understanding on privacy in the private sector between the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, and Information and Privacy Commissioners of Alberta and British Columbia.

Canada's privacy authorities called for a new legal framework that sets out appropriate limits on police use of facial recognition. The statement says the legal framework should establish clearly and explicitly the circumstances in which police use of facial recognition is acceptable – and when it is not. It should include privacy protections that are specific to facial recognition use, and it should ensure appropriate oversight when the technology is deployed.