Body-Worn Camera Pilot Project
Supporting transparency, accountability, and community trust
The University of Toronto is launching a Body-Worn Camera (BWC) Pilot Project for Campus Safety at the St. George campus.
This pilot will assess how body-worn cameras can support safe, respectful, and accountable interactions, while ensuring that privacy, rights, and freedoms are protected.
About the pilot
During the pilot, Campus Safety Special Constables will wear body-worn cameras during certain safety, investigative, and enforcement interactions. The pilot is expected to last for 12 months, allowing an appropriate amount of time for evaluation. Data and community feedback gathered during the pilot phase will help inform future decisions about the program.
Why Campus Safety is introducing body-worn cameras
The Body-Worn Camera Pilot Project aims to:
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Enhance community trust and accountability
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Improve safety and documentation
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Support equitable, bias-free service
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Strengthen evidence and complaint resolution
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Inform training and policy improvements
Guiding principles
Body-worn camera use is guided by principles that require it to:
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Support safety and accountability
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Be transparent and overt
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Protect privacy, dignity, and rights
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Promote equity and bias-free service
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Respect freedom of expression and peaceful assembly
When and how cameras are used
Body-worn cameras are used in defined circumstances — they are not always recording.
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Cameras are activated during safety, investigative, and enforcement interactions
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Special Constables provide verbal notice when recording, and cameras are worn visibly
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Cameras are not used for surveillance, covert recording, administrative tasks, or off-duty activity
There are strict limits on recording in sensitive environments, such as private dwellings, healthcare facilities, places of worship or other settings where enhanced privacy is expected. In some cases, cameras must remain off unless specific conditions are met, such as legal authority, consent, or exigent circumstances.
Special Constables are required to use discretion and prioritize dignity and respect, including when interacting with vulnerable individuals.
Privacy and data protection
Protecting privacy is a core requirement of the pilot.
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Recordings are securely stored on Canadian-based systems and encrypted
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Data is retained for a defined period and then securely deleted, unless required for investigative or legal purposes
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Access to recordings is role-based, logged, and audited
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Recordings are used only for authorized purposes, such as investigations, complaint resolution, training, or legal requirements
Individuals who were recorded may request access to footage, subject to applicable laws and privacy requirements.
Oversight and governance
The program is governed by a University-approved framework and supported by:
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Campus Safety leadership
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The Privacy Office and Office of University Counsel
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A steering committee providing oversight
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Community consultations with a wide variety of staff, faculty members and students across the University, including subject-matter experts on policing policy, mental health, equity, diversity and inclusion and other relevant fields.
The program is subject to regular audits, reporting, and review to ensure compliance and accountability.
Evaluation and what happens next
The University will assess the program based on factors such as:
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Operational effectiveness
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Privacy compliance and data governance
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Equity considerations
Findings will inform decisions about whether and how the program may continue.
Community feedback
Community input is an important part of this pilot.
We recognize that members of the University community and the public may have questions or different perspectives. Feedback will help inform how the program is evaluated and how it may evolve over time.
The community is invited to share feedback through the University of Toronto Body-Worn Camera Pilot Feedback Form.
Guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures
After considerable research and consultation, the University has developed two documents that provide clear guidance for the use of body-worn cameras:
These documents shape how body-worn cameras are used, how the data is managed and stored, and how this program will be reviewed. The documents will be reviewed and updated over time, and subsequent versions will be shared here.