The federal privacy commissioner has released updated rules on how organizations in Canada should handle biometric data such as facial recognition scans and fingerprints.
The guidelines, aimed at both public and private organizations, come after a public consultation held from November 2023 to February 2024. Officials say the technology can make access to services more secure and convenient, but the data is highly personal and can reveal sensitive details such as health information or racial characteristics.
“Organizations need to approach the use of biometric information in a privacy-protective way, building privacy considerations at the beginning of any new program or initiative. Prioritizing privacy in this way supports innovation and helps create conditions for a more secure and enriching digital society,” said Privacy Commissioner Philippe Dufresne in a statement on Monday.
The rules stress that organizations must have a clear and lawful reason to collect biometric data, assess potential privacy risks, and be transparent about how the information is used. The guidance also outlines consent requirements, security measures for storing data, and accuracy testing for biometric systems.
After hearing from stakeholders—including academics, civil society groups, businesses, legal associations, and public institutions—the commissioner’s office revised the draft rules to clarify definitions, align more closely with existing privacy laws, and expand technical requirements and best practices.
Updates also include refined consent guidelines for the private sector and a stronger focus on lawful authority and risk assessment for public institutions.
Okay so what about your iPhone? Apple stores Touch ID and Face ID data only on your device, inside a dedicated Secure Enclave chip, where it’s encrypted and never sent to Apple’s servers or backed up to iCloud. The system uses mathematical representations of your fingerprint or face—not actual images—so the raw biometric data can’t be reconstructed.
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