The provincial privacy watchdog is investigating whether the City of Richmond’s pilot project of installing high-definition cameras at some intersections is “compliant” with privacy legislation.
Richmond city council voted in December to install high-definition cameras at 10 intersections in order to strengthen public safety and help law enforcement.
Couns. Michael Wolfe and Laura Gillanders voted against the initiative.
“The City initiated the pilot of the cameras in March 2025, sparking questions about the collection, use, disclosure, and protection of personally identifiable images of those who use the intersection,” said the Office of the BC Information and Privacy Commissioner in a post to its website.
According to city spokesperson Clay Adams, the OIPC has contacted the city to "seek more information about the cameras and their potential impact on privacy."
The investigation will look into whether the city “is authorized to collect and use personal information to test the camera system” and whether the city “notified individuals of the purposes and authority for collecting personal information through the camera system,” the OIPC stated.
Furthermore, the privacy commissioner will investigate whether the city is authorized to disclose personal information that’s collected during the pilot project, and whether personal information collected is “properly protected.”
The cameras at 10 intersections are expected to cost $2.5 million to install.
Currently, the City of Richmond is testing cameras at one intersection.
The intersections proposed by the RCMP in this phase are considered “major entry and exit routes” between Richmond, Sea Island, the Knight Street Bridge and the George Massey Tunnel.
These intersections are:
1. No. 5 Road & Steveston Highway
2. Shell Road & Steveston Highway
3. No. 5 Road & 10700 Block
4. No. 5 Road & Horseshoe Way
5. Garden City Road & Sea Island Way
6. Great Canadian Way & Bridgeport Road
7. Knight Street & Westminster Highway
8. No. 6 Road & Westminster Highway
9. Jacombs Road & Westminster Highway
10. Gilbert Road & River Road
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