The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has introduced ReportIn, a cutting-edge mobile app designed to track individuals subject to immigration enforcement conditions, including permanent residents, foreign nationals, and refugee claimants. Launched on November 13, the app aims to replace traditional reporting methods with a more convenient, tech-driven solution. However, privacy advocates are raising concerns about its potential as a surveillance tool.
Table of Contents
What is the ReportIn App?
ReportIn uses facial recognition and location data to verify a user’s identity and location. The app offers individuals awaiting deportation or immigration decisions an alternative to in-person check-ins or detention.
- Key Features:
- Facial recognition technology to confirm identity.
- Location sharing during check-ins to verify compliance with reporting conditions.
- Manual review of submissions by CBSA staff.
According to CBSA spokesperson Rebecca Purdy, “ReportIn does not continuously track movements. Location is only shared during reporting.”
How It Works
Eligible individuals must attend an orientation session at a CBSA office to be onboarded. During this process, they learn how their personal information is collected, used, and disclosed.
- Participants receive a unique code to access the app.
- The app uses facial matching technology, similar to smartphone face unlocking systems, for identity verification.
- If a user opts out of location sharing, they become ineligible for remote reporting and must use alternative methods like in-person check-ins.
A Replacement for Voice Reporting
ReportIn replaces the CBSA’s previous voice reporting system, which was decommissioned earlier this year. Since its launch, at least 40 individuals have voluntarily signed up for the app.
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A Controversial Solution
While touted as a modernized reporting tool, ReportIn has drawn criticism from privacy experts and immigration advocates.
Concerns About Surveillance
Kristen Thomasen, a law professor at the University of Windsor, questions the app’s “voluntary” nature. For individuals under immigration enforcement, the alternatives are limited:
- Detention.
- Frequent in-person check-ins.
- Sharing biometric and location data through ReportIn.
“This doesn’t feel like a real choice,” Thomasen says, adding that the reliance on facial recognition technology raises further ethical concerns.
Facial Recognition Accuracy
Although facial recognition systems have faced criticism for bias and inaccuracies, the CBSA points to a third-party evaluation by Credo AI, which reported a 99.9% facial match rate across six demographic groups. Purdy emphasized that “the app does not make automated decisions” and includes multiple layers of human verification.
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The Bigger Picture: Immigration and Political Pressure
The app’s launch coincides with heightened scrutiny of Canada’s immigration policies. The federal government faces calls to reduce immigration amid a housing and affordability crisis. Meanwhile, the U.S. administration has threatened Canada with tariffs unless it tightens border security.
Despite the timing, the CBSA insists that ReportIn has been in development since June 2021 and is unrelated to political pressures.
Cost and Comparisons
The app’s development cost $3.8 million over four years, with an additional $600,000 allocated for ongoing support. While less expensive than the much-criticized $54 million ArriveCAN app, the price tag has still drawn public scrutiny.
Convenience or Concern?
ReportIn is positioned as a tool to modernize immigration enforcement, offering individuals under scrutiny a way to meet conditions without physical check-ins. However, critics warn that its biometric capabilities and reliance on location sharing could lead to overreach and misuse.
As Ottawa navigates the balance between immigration control and personal privacy, the ReportIn app remains a contentious addition to Canada’s border enforcement toolkit.
For more updates on ReportIn and immigration policies, stay tuned.
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