New ReportIn app aims to streamline immigration enforcement but raises concerns over privacy and algorithmic transparency
Canadian border authorities are set to roll out an app this autumn that will assist in tracking individuals who have been ordered to leave the country. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) will use facial biometric technology through the app, named ReportIn, to confirm identities and monitor the locations of these individuals.
ReportIn was developed to allow foreign nationals and permanent residents under immigration enforcement conditions to report remotely, rather than visiting a CBSA office in person, according to a CBSA spokesperson.
The development of this solution has been ongoing since 2021. The CBSA decided to phase out its previous voice biometric technology due to performance issues, replacing it with the more advanced ReportIn app.
In April, the CBSA issued a tender for a smartphone-based facial biometrics solution to verify the identity of travellers crossing Canadian borders, with the contract valued between USD 3.6 million and USD 18.2 million. Although the app is voluntary, it has sparked concerns regarding the algorithms used, the consent model for users, and potential biases in its implementation.
The CBSA has indicated that it intends to keep the facial biometrics algorithm proprietary, which has raised concerns about transparency. Brenda McPhail, the director of executive education in McMaster University’s public policy in digital society program (currently on leave from the Canadian Civil Liberties Association), emphasised that this could deny individuals the right to understand how decisions affecting them are made. The app will utilise Amazon Web Services (AWS), leading to further questions about whether Amazon Rekognition, a controversial facial recognition tool, will be incorporated.
