Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia (OIPC BC) — Clearview AI, Inc.
The BC Commissioner ordered Clearview AI to stop collecting, using and disclosing the biometric facial images of British Columbians and to delete images already collected, after finding its facial-recognition scraping breached BC privacy law.
Key takeaway — how to prevent this
Biometric data (faces, iris, fingerprints) needs an explicit lawful basis or consent. Scraping or capturing it without one is unlawful across the EU/UK and many US states (e.g. Illinois BIPA) — and draws the largest fines.
Case brief
Read from the authority's press release on 2026-09-19. Every holding carries a short verbatim quote from that text.
- Decided by
- BC Information and Privacy Commissioner
- Parties
- BC Information and Privacy Commissioner v. Clearview AI
- Decision date
- December 14, 2021
- Remedy
- Clearview AI was ordered to stop offering its facial recognition services in British Columbia and to make best efforts to cease collecting and delete images and biometric facial arrays of British Columbia residents collected without consent.
- Appeal
- Appeal status not stated
Key holdings
Clearview AI is banned from offering facial recognition services using non-consensual images and biometric facial arrays to clients in British Columbia.
“Clearview is prohibited from offering its facial recognition services that have been the subject of the investigation”
Clearview AI must make best efforts to cease collecting, using, and disclosing non-consensual images and biometric facial arrays of British Columbians.
“Clearview shall make best efforts to cease the collection, use and disclosure of (i) images and (ii) biometric facial arrays”
Clearview AI must make best efforts to delete all images and biometric facial arrays collected from individuals in British Columbia without consent.
“Clearview shall make best efforts to delete the (i) images and(ii) biometric facial arrays in its possession”
In plain English
BC Information and Privacy Commissioner Michael McEvoy issued an order against New York-based technology company Clearview AI on December 14, 2021. The legally binding order followed Clearview AI's refusal to comply with recommendations from a joint investigation report published on February 3, 2021, by Canadian federal and provincial privacy authorities. That investigation determined that Clearview AI violated federal and provincial privacy laws. Under Order P21-08, Clearview AI is prohibited from providing clients in British Columbia with facial recognition services that rely on images and biometric facial arrays collected from individuals in the province without consent. Furthermore, the order requires Clearview AI to make best efforts to stop collecting, using, and disclosing non-consensual images and biometric facial arrays of British Columbia residents. Clearview AI must also make best efforts to delete all such images and biometric facial arrays currently in its possession. Clearview AI was given until January 25, 2022, to comply with these requirements. The decision is subject only to judicial review.
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