(Ottawa) Dozens of experts, academics and civil society organizations are calling on the federal government to remove the artificial intelligence component of its privacy bill, saying both issues must be studied separately.
Last year, the Liberals introduced a privacy bill aimed at giving Canadians more control over how their personal data is used by commercial entities.
The legislative piece also defined the fines that would be imposed on non-compliant organizations and presented new rules surrounding the use of artificial intelligence.
However, in a letter sent Monday to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, François-Philippe Champagne, 45 signatories argue that the current provisions of the bill “do not protect[nt] not the rights and freedoms of Canadian citizens against the risks linked to the rapid development of artificial intelligence.
The signatories argue that Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada should not be the main “nor the sole drafter of a bill that could have profound repercussions on human rights, labor and culture.”
In their letter, the signatories say that even if the section on artificial intelligence were removed from the bill, provisions on artificial intelligence could still be put in place by 2025.
By doing so, the signatories believe that MPs would have more time to focus on the other aspects of Bill C-27, which “raise significant concerns regarding the right to privacy in the Canada.”