👁️🗨️ Open Letter to the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
A Call for Review of Emerging Biometric Surveillance Technologies
Technology is advancing faster than the laws designed to protect citizens.
Recently, demonstrations have shown that wearable devices like Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, developed by Meta Platforms, could potentially be connected to facial recognition systems and publicly available databases to identify strangers in real time.
Some of these demonstrations were carried out by students at Harvard University to raise awareness about privacy risks. However, the experiment revealed something larger and more concerning:
⚠️ The technology to instantly identify people in public spaces already exists.
But the legal protections surrounding it remain unclear.
Because this issue affects everyone who walks down a street, sits in a café, attends a public event, or simply enjoys time in public spaces, I believe it deserves urgent public discussion.
For this reason, I have written the following letter to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.
📜 Letter to the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
Request for Review of Emerging Biometric Surveillance Technologies
Dear Privacy Commissioner,
I am writing as a concerned citizen, writer, and former technology designer to express concern regarding the rapid emergence of biometric surveillance technologies, particularly wearable devices capable of facial recognition.
Recent demonstrations have shown how devices such as Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, produced by Meta Platforms, can potentially be connected to facial recognition software and publicly available databases to identify individuals in real time.
In one widely discussed demonstration conducted by students at Harvard University, the purpose was to highlight privacy risks associated with emerging technologies. However, the experiment also revealed something significant:
⚠️ The technological capability to identify strangers instantly in public spaces is no longer theoretical — it already exists.
This raises important questions about the protection of Canadians’ privacy and personal security.
Many Canadians still reasonably expect a degree of anonymity in public spaces. When people walk down a street, sit in a café, attend public events, or enjoy natural spaces such as beaches and parks, they generally do not expect that others may secretly identify them, gather personal information, or compile profiles without their knowledge or consent.
Biometric technologies — especially facial recognition integrated into wearable devices — challenge these expectations in profound ways. 👁️
Canada has strong traditions of protecting privacy, and the work of the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada has played an important role in identifying risks related to new digital technologies. However, the rapid pace of technological development suggests that additional public guidance and regulatory clarity may now be necessary.
For this reason, I respectfully ask whether your office might consider:
🔹 Conducting or initiating a review of wearable biometric technologies and their potential impact on Canadians’ privacy rights
🔹 Issuing updated public guidance regarding facial recognition and biometric identification in everyday public environments
🔹 Providing recommendations to Parliament regarding potential legislative safeguards for biometric data protection
🔹 Encouraging transparency requirements when wearable devices collect biometric information
The goal of raising these concerns is not to oppose innovation or technological progress. Rather, it is to ensure that new technologies develop alongside ethical guidelines and legal protections that respect the dignity, safety, and autonomy of individuals. ⚖️
Public trust in technology depends on strong privacy protections and clear expectations regarding how personal data can be collected and used.
I hope your office may be able to provide guidance or initiate discussion on this important issue as these technologies become more widely available.
Thank you for your time and for the important work your office does to protect the privacy rights of Canadians.
Respectfully,
Tina Winterlik
Writer and Digital Media Creator
(also known as Zipolita)
📬 Contact Information for the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
If you believe this issue deserves attention, you can also share your thoughts with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.
Privacy Commissioner of Canada: Philippe Dufresne
📧 Email: info@priv.gc.ca
🌐 Website: https://www.priv.gc.ca
📞 Phone: 1-800-282-1376
Mailing Address:
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
30 Victoria Street
Gatineau, Quebec
K1A 1H3
Canada
🗣️ This Issue Concerns Everyone
Facial recognition technology and biometric surveillance are no longer distant possibilities. They are already emerging in everyday consumer devices.
👥 If you believe Canadians deserve strong protections for personal privacy in public spaces:
• Share this article
• Write to your Member of Parliament
• Contact the Privacy Commissioner
• Start conversations about biometric rights
Technology should serve people — not quietly monitor them.
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