Executive Summary
Entry/Exit Wireless Handheld Devices

Wireless handheld devices (devices) will be introduced to support the Entry-Exit Initiative and Beyond the Border Action Plan. The devices will be equipped with a mobile version of the Integrated Primary Inspection Line (IPIL) application (i.e. mobile IPIL) to facilitate the secure and accurate capture and risk assessment of individual traveller and conveyance information. The devices will be deployed at Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) service points which are not equipped with primary inspection booths. In addition, they will be deployed to ports of entry where primary inspection booths are present but do not support processing of all types of traveller processing. An example of this would be bus processing at large ports where workstations are only available in adjacent booths or buildings but not where officers process travellers directly. In this scenario, devices will allow Border Services Officers (BSOs) to complete traveller processing on the bus rather than offloading passengers.

Today, most ports of entry have booths equipped with IPIL Air or Highway along with fixed workstations and document readers to provide BSOs with a means of capturing traveller and conveyance (licence plate) information for risk assessment against customs and enforcement databases. Where no booth is available, BSOs must take licence plate and traveller information and process it at an IPIL workstation in an office adjacent to the primary inspection line. This forces the BSO to leave the travellers unattended.

The introduction of devices will increase security by providing BSOs with at hand access to information used in determining the travellers’ admissibility. It will also streamline the entry process for our less automated ports and processes such as bus clearance.

At this time the devices are slated for deployment to 72 ports of entry and will be used to process travellers arriving via personal conveyance, bus, air, marine and train. A soft launch deployment of the devices started in July 2017 and will be rolling out nationally thereafter.

Protecting Your Personal Information

The device is a tool used by the BSO to collect information directly from the traveller and verify it against information that is already held within CBSA information holdings. While the device introduces a new means for capturing traveller and conveyance information, the type of data collected remains unchanged.

The following personal information elements related to the traveller will be handled by the device:

All information collected will be held within the CBSA’s existing Integrated Customs System (ICS) platform. ICS is a common framework that encompasses both commercial and passenger-traveller streams and is comprised of a number of components (e.g. Passage History, Secondary Processing).

The information in transit will be encrypted with access limited to authorized users. Under normal circumstances there will be no traveller data stored on the device.

Right of Access

Individuals may formally request access to their personal information, or access to corporate records related to the wireless handhelds by filing a request with the Access to Information and Privacy Division. More information about this can be found on the Access to Information and Privacy page.

Accountability

Individuals with concerns about the collection, use, disclosure or retention of their personal information may issue a complaint to the CBSA Access to Information and Privacy Division. Complaints should be made in writing, and include the individuals name, contact information, and a brief description of their concerns. Contact the Access to Information and Privacy Division at the CBSA.

Date modified:

2018-08-22