Privacy pragmatism and streetscape video surveillance in Canada

Abstract

This article contributes to international debates about public-area streetscape video surveillance by assessing the Canadian policy context. Based on findings from an ongoing empirical investigation, the authors argue that Canada’s pragmatic policy framework enables surveillance advocates and adversaries to selectively endorse privacy protection principles institutionalized in best practice protocols. The authors explain their findings in relation to the international literature on video surveillance policy diffusion and privacy.