Use the form below if you have any concerns about being identified as part of our data collection.
Privacy Notice
The University of Toronto operates an automated vehicle for research from the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS). The vehicle is tested on public roads in Ontario with a trained safety driver at the wheel, who can take control at any time. This notice explains what information the vehicle collects, why, and how it is protected.
What the vehicle collects
The vehicle uses sensors to understand the road around it:
Cameras record a 360-degree view of the driving scene. This imagery may capture people and vehicles nearby, including faces and licence plates.
LiDAR sensors measure the shape and position of objects around the vehicle. LiDAR does not record colour or readable text.
GPS, motion, and vehicle sensors record the vehicle's own position and movement.
The vehicle does not record audio. It does not identify, track, or monitor any individual. People and vehicles appear in the data only because they were in the driving scene.
Vehicles collecting data display signage indicating that sensor data collection is in progress.
Why we collect it
The data is used only to develop, test, validate, and improve the automated driving system, including its ability to detect pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users safely. It is never sold, licensed, or used for surveillance, tracking, or profiling.
Legal authority
This information is collected under section 38(2) of Ontario's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA), as necessary to the University's research conducted under Ontario's Automated Vehicle Pilot Program (Ontario Regulation 306/15 under the Highway Traffic Act).
How we protect it
Data is encrypted while it is transferred and while it is stored. Access to raw data is limited to authorized research team members who need it for their work, and requires multi-factor authentication. All access is logged and reviewed.
Some data is stored with secure cloud service providers in the United States. That data is protected by the same encryption, access, and logging controls as data stored in Ontario.
Blurring of faces and licence plates
Before any camera imagery is shared outside the research team, it is processed to blur faces and licence plates. The blurring system is set to err on the side of blurring too much rather than missing anyone, and a sample of the processed data is reviewed by hand before release.
Who we share data with
Unblurred imagery stays within the research team. Only blurred, de-identified data may be shared with research collaborators under a written data-use agreement, included in academic publications, or released publicly for research.
We disclose information to law enforcement or government only when required by valid legal process. We never provide identifiable information about other road users to private individuals or companies.
How long we keep it
Raw sensor data is kept for the duration of the pilot and for up to two years afterward, then securely deleted. De-identified data that no longer contains personal information may be kept longer for research.
If a privacy breach occurs
If personal information is lost, accessed, or disclosed without authorization, we will contain the incident, assess its impact, and notify the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario and affected individuals where there is a real risk of significant harm.
Your choices and requests
If you believe you appear in our data and would like it removed or blurred, please submit a request using the form on this page. We will review every request and respond to you.
You may also contact us with any questions about this notice or how your information is handled.
Contact
Connor Wilson, Team Captain
University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies
4925 Dufferin Street, Toronto, Ontario
connor.wilson@autodrive.utoronto.ca