Newfoundland and Labrador town to stop use of body cameras by municipal officers
A Labrador town has officially ended the use of body cameras for its municipal enforcement officer, after the province's privacy commissioner said the program lacked safeguards.
The town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay signed a court consent order on Jan. 17 requiring it to stop collecting, using or disclosing personal information obtained from the cameras, Michael Harvey, Newfoundland and Labrador's information and privacy commissioner, said Monday.
"This (program) was novel and the technology is pretty privacy invasive in the sense that it collects a maximum amount of information about anyone who is seen on that camera, anyone who is around and the officers themselves," he said in an interview.
Happy Valley-Goose Bay had been using cameras for its municipal enforcement and animal control officers since July 2020, and Harvey said that to his knowledge, the town was the first public body in the province to implement a camera program.
The town's use of the body cameras gained notoriety in October 2020, when a video surfaced on social media appearing to show a municipal enforcement officer throwing an Inuk man to the ground.
Harvey announced in December of that year that his office was investigating the program. He released a report last May concluding the body cameras had the potential to capture more information than needed for the town's purposes.
His report said that Happy Valley-Goose Bay's program lacked safeguards such as secure storage, data manipulation protection and clear rules as to how many people where allowed to view the footage. He also noted that the town did not have a policy for the handling of access requests or privacy complaints related to the use of the cameras.
Harvey said the town had three body cameras: one was used by the municipal enforcement officer, another was used by the animal control officer, and the third camera was held in reserve.
One of his primary concerns was that the municipal enforcement officer has policing authority for some duties and not for others.
"This gets into the question of when do you turn it (the camera) on and off," Harvey said. "It's complicated enough for police officers and we had some concerns that hadn't adequately been dealt with in policy."
The report noted that the town had put its body camera program on hold, but Harvey recommended it be formally suspended immediately. It said any future program would have to be compliant with the province's Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
Town officials responded by filing a court application questioning the authority of Harvey's recommendations.
Happy Valley-Goose Bay Mayor George Andrews said in an interview Monday that although the camera program has not been active since before the privacy commissioner's report, town council has still not rescinded its camera policy.
"If we wish to proceed, I think there needs to be a new policy put in place is what the intent of this (consent order) was," Andrews said.
He said a new council has been elected since the program was launched. Moving forward, he said, council would adhere to the privacy commissioner's recommendations if it decides to equip its officers again.
"We would put a policy in place that is legal and complies with the (provincial) act and is vetted through the commissioner's office," he said.
Harvey said the new legal agreement doesn't prevent Happy Valley-Goose Bay or any other town from mounting a body camera program in the future.
"We are not saying no body-worn cameras ever," he said. "We are saying that like every public program it needs to be compliant with the law."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 31, 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Judge in Trump's hush money trial threatened to throw witness out of court for behavior on stand
Michael Cohen testified Monday that he stole tens of thousands of dollars from his ex-boss Donald Trump’s company, an admission defence lawyers hope to use to undermine Cohen’s credibility.
What is BORG drinking, and why is it a dangerous trend? An expert explains
If you've been to a party lately and haven't seen someone drinking a BORG, you're likely not partying with college students.
The world's best airline is paying staff a bonus of 8 months' salary
Singapore Airlines will reward its employees with a bonus worth nearly eight months of salary, a person familiar with the matter told CNN on Friday.
Oilers win Game 7 over Canucks, advance to Western Conference Final
The Edmonton Oilers weathered a late Vancouver Canucks charge on Monday night, beating the hosts 3-2 to win their seven-game second-round playoff series in the decisive showdown.
McGill says pro-Palestinian protest outside senior administrator's home 'crosses the line'
McGill University has denounced a pro-Palestinian protest held Sunday outside the home of one of its senior administrators.
Red Lobster probes 'endless shrimp' losses after bankruptcy filing
U.S.-based restaurant chain Red Lobster has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in a Florida court after securing $100 million in financing commitments from its existing lenders, the company said on Sunday.
Katy Perry sings goodbye to 'American Idol'
Katy Perry said her goodbyes on 'American Idol' after seven seasons. On Sunday night’s live 'idol' season finale, a medley of Perry's hit songs were performed, including 'Teenage Dream,' 'Dark Horse' and 'California Gurls.'
Microsoft's AI chatbot will 'recall' everything you do on a PC
Microsoft wants laptop users to get so comfortable with its artificial intelligence chatbot that it will remember everything you're doing on your computer and help figure out what you want to do next.
Judge cites error, will reopen sentencing hearing for man who attacked Nancy Pelosi's husband
A federal judge will reopen the sentencing hearing for the man who broke into Nancy Pelosi's San Francisco home and bludgeoned her husband with a hammer after the judge failed to allow him to speak during his court appearance last week.