Ontario's privacy commissioner issues guardrails for police using investigative genetic genealogy
TORONTO, June 24, 2025 /CNW/ - Today, the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (IPC) released guardrails for police use of investigative genetic genealogy. This first-in-Canada public resource marks an important step towards proper governance of this new and emerging technology.
Investigative genetic genealogy (IGG) is a technique used by police to solve crimes. It involves using genetic data from crime scene samples and DNA databases to identify individuals through genetic matches, or partial matches to biological relatives.
While IGG is a powerful tool for solving serious crimes, its use by police is currently not subject to any clear legislative framework. This raises real privacy and human rights concerns, especially for individuals who may become ensnared as part of a police investigation simply because they share DNA with someone else.
"Investigative genetic genealogy has the power to crack cold cases, bring closure to victims' families, and even absolve the wrongfully convicted. But without clear legal rules, this new investigative tool can unduly broaden the scope of state surveillance and intrusion into the private lives of many innocent people." said Patricia Kosseim, Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario. "Until there is a clear law governing the use of this technology, my office is proposing a policy framework to help ensure police in Ontario use this technology responsibly and in a way that maintains public trust."
While the IPC does not necessarily endorse police use of IGG, these guardrails serve as a tool to help police comply with their legal obligations and mitigate risks to privacy and human rights. The twelve guardrails cover: lawful authority, necessity and proportionality, accountability, third party procurement, data minimization, retention, data security, controls for surreptitious DNA collection, transparency, access, public consultation, and ethical disclosure guidelines.
In developing these guardrails, the IPC consulted with a broad range of interested parties to ensure a diversity of voices and expertise, including: police services, government ministries, civil society and human rights organizations, academic researchers and lawyers, experts in forensic science, pathology, genomics and bioethics, First Nations technology leaders, as well as privacy, human rights, and victims' rights regulators.
Guardrails for Police Use of Investigative Genetic Genealogy in Ontario is the latest in a series of practical resources for police related to Next-Generation Law Enforcement. Others include guidance on automated licence plate recognition, facial recognition, and body-worn cameras. Through the development of these guidance documents, the IPC aims to contribute to building public trust in law enforcement by working with relevant partners to develop the necessary guardrails for the adoption of new technologies that protect both public safety and Ontarians' access and privacy rights.
Learn more:
Guardrails for Police Use of Investigative Genetic Genealogy in Ontario
Family ties: Using investigative genetic genealogy to solve crimes (Info Matters podcast episode)
Release of personal information to police: your privacy rights
Disclosure of personal information to law enforcement
Law enforcement and surveillance technologies (IPC webcast)
SOURCE Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner/Ontario
View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/June2025/24/c3667.html
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
L.A. County leaders to weigh legal action following violent ICE arrests
Citing a recent arrest by immigration agents that bloodied a man in the unincorporated area of Valinda, Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis said she wants the county to explore a legal counterattack against what she described as the federal government's "unconstitutional immigration enforcement practices." In a statement Saturday, Solis said that she plans to co-sponsor a motion at Tuesday's Board of Supervisors meeting asking the county's attorney to explore "all legal remedies available to the County to protect the civil rights of our residents and prevent federal law enforcement personnel from engaging in any unconstitutional or unlawful immigration enforcement." Such conduct, the motion says, includes the "unlawfully stopping, questioning or detaining individuals without reasonable suspicion, or arresting individuals without probable cause or a valid warrant." "As these immigration raids continue to terrorize our communities, I'm deeply disturbed by the forceful detainment of a man in unincorporated Valinda. This incident raises serious concerns about the conduct and legality of these actions, and demonstrates a violation of constitutional rights and due process," Solis, whose district stretches from Eagle Rock to Pomona, said in a statement. Read more: L.A. city leaders look to file lawsuit over 'unconstitutional' immigration enforcement The Trump administration's ongoing crackdown on undocumented immigrants, the motion says, has sown widespread fear throughout the region and emptied out normally bustling public spaces, with people "avoiding going to work or visiting grocery stores and restaurants, skipping medical appointments." This has had a "tremendous negative impact" on not only the county's economy, but also its "ability to provide for the health and welfare of our residents," according to the motion. The L.A. City Council introduced a similar motion earlier this month seeking to prohibit federal agents from carrying out unconstitutional stops, searches or arrests of city residents. Federal officials have said their agents are defending themselves against increasingly hostile crowds, which in some cases are interfering with arrests. Read more: L.A. immigration raids force the undocumented to trade their freedom for safety Top officials, such as Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, have argued that the government's raids are targeting "criminals that have been out on our street far too long." A recent Times analysis suggested that the majority of those who were arrested in early June were not convicted criminals, however. For weeks, social media has been flooded with videos of federal agents, their faces often shrouded by masks, violently arresting bystanders who are filming their actions, dragging a taco stand vendor by her arm and tossing smoke bombs into a crowd of angry onlookers. One widely circulated clip showed a military-style vehicle accompanying federal law enforcement officers during an apparent raid at a home in Compton earlier this month — part of what critics have called an alarming escalation in tactics. Footage reviewed by The Times shows a person in the turret of the vehicle pointing what appears to be a less-lethal projectile launcher downward, but it's unclear whether any shots were fired. Read more: Video shows military-style vehicle in what witnesses say was a Compton immigration raid In her statement, Solis cited another federal operation that was at the center of a viral video. That footage, shot by a bystander and obtained by ABC 7, shows federal agents in tactical vests and masks smashing the windows of a large white pickup truck before apparently pulling out a man from inside. Several agents are later seen kneeling on top of the man who is bleeding from an apparent head wound, even as a crowd of onlookers demand that the man be released. In one clip, an agent is shown pushing the man's face into the pavement. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
CBS News
3 hours ago
- CBS News
Rally held to support "No Masks for ICE Act" introduced by New York lawmaker
Bill by N.Y. lawmaker would require ICE agents be unmasked during enforcement actions Bill by N.Y. lawmaker would require ICE agents be unmasked during enforcement actions Bill by N.Y. lawmaker would require ICE agents be unmasked during enforcement actions A New York lawmaker is calling for transparency from United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, starting with having its agents remove their masks. In a statement from ICE, a spokesperson says the masks are optional but that "ICE law enforcement and their families are being targeted and are facing a 500% increase in assaults ... due to the demonization of ICE by hostile groups and irresponsible elected officials." "Politicians and activists must turn the temperature down and tone down their rhetoric," the spokesperson added. Bill would require ICE agents be unmasked during enforcement actions Immigration advocates and political leaders used 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan, which houses the city's ICE field office, as a backdrop Saturday. Immigrants, and even Comptroller Brad Lander, have been detained there by ICE agents with masks on. "No excuses, no cover-ups. When law enforcement hides who they are, there is no accountability," Rep. Nydia Velazquez said. That's the message behind her "No Masks for ICE Act" introduced earlier this month, requiring that ICE agents be unmasked during enforcement actions unless it's for a serious health issue, which has to be explained in writing. "And require them to wear clothing that clearly shows they work for ICE," she said. NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 20: Federal agents patrol the halls of immigration court at the Jacob K. Javitz Federal Building on June 20, 2025 in New York masks creates risk of copycat criminals, advocates say Supporters of the bill also allude to copycat incidents, where masked individuals have committed crimes allegedly pretending to be ICE agents. "If they're just wearing masks, you may think you're being kidnapped, and if you're armed, you may shoot them. So this bill will promote the safety of federal agents," Rep. Jerry Nadler said. Ricardo Aca, with immigrant advocacy group Make The Road, says banning the face coverings could relieve tensions he's seeing among the immigrant populations he advocates for. "A lot of folks don't know if they're being kidnapped or they're being detained because ICE is not even telling them or giving them the dignity and respect that they deserve," he said. Supporters say democracy cannot exist in darkness, or behind a mask.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Matt Stewart returns to law enforcement as Newton County Sheriff
NEOSHO, Mo. — For 187 years, the Newton County sheriff's office has provided law enforcement services to the people of Newton County. Established in 1838, it has gone from a two-man department to one that consists of three divisions: patrol, investigation and corrections. Each division is supervised by a captain, and all are led by newly elected Sheriff Matt Stewart. Stewart, who was elected in November as the county's 45th sheriff, spent four years as the Children's Center director in Joplin. Prior to that role, he worked through the ranks to become the Joplin police chief. He retired from Joplin Police Department in 2020 after 20 years of service. 'I've always had a desire ... was drawn to law enforcement,' Stewart said. 'I saw it is a place to give back to the community and serve the public in some capacity.' Other command staff members include Chief Deputy Joe Moore, who joined the department alongside Stewart. For the past four years, Moore served as the police chief in Lamar, following a 20-year career with the Joplin Police Department. The department has 30 uniformed deputies working under the leadership of Capt. Mike Barnett. Barnett has worked in law enforcement for 32 years, with 28 at the Newton County sheriff's office. He's worked his way up from being a patrol officer to first leading the corrections division for seven years to today leading the patrol division. The Investigation Division, which includes eight detectives and a civilian victim's advocate, is led by Capt. Stacy Moore, whose law enforcement experience began as a commissioned U.S. Army infantry officer and later as a military intelligence officer. After eight years of military service, he joined the FBI as a special agent. Following his retirement from the FBI, he joined Newton County in January as the captain of the Investigation Division. The Corrections Division, led by Capt. Jerry Hornback, has a 42-member team. Jerry Hornback also began his career with the U.S. military, serving for 20 years with both the U.S. Air Force and the National Guard. He served as a military police investigator prior to joining the Newton County sheriff's office in 2005. He began as a court bailiff and rose through the ranks to become the Correction Division supervisor that oversees the jail and courthouse security. Transparency Stewart said he has set a goal to increase the office's transparency with the community. This has included social media posts, providing information about weekly service call numbers, as well as ongoing investigations. Other data, including a daily arrest log, is posted to the office's website. Stewart said he wants Newton County residents to see what his deputies are doing on an ongoing basis to help keep residents safe. Since January, Stewart has also hosted a monthly 'Coffee with the Sheriff' at various locations around the county. He said it allows residents to voice concerns about issues within their communities, as well as provide feedback. In March, the county became part of the Blue Shield Program, an initiative created by Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe designed to recognize a community's commitment to enhancing public safety and support for law enforcement. As a member of the Blue Shield Program, county officials can access a pool of $10 million in state grants for law enforcement training and equipment. Goals, initiatives Looking ahead, Stewart hopes to begin the bidding process this summer for a new evidence facility located at the sheriff's office. He would also like to work to increase retirement benefits for those working within the department. 'I hope we can get to the point where we invest in our employees here, the best we can, to make sure they have a good retirement in place,' Stewart said. 'We also hope the community sees us as a responsible agency, and we develop the trust of the community.' Stewart said he wants county residents to know everyone in the office is there to serve them, to make 'Newton County the safest place it can possibly be.'
