Canada’s national security watchdog is launching a broad review of how artificial intelligence is being used and governed across the country’s intelligence and security agencies, raising new questions about transparency, oversight and risk management in an increasingly automated security environment.

According to reporting by The Canadian Press, the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency (NSIRA) has notified federal ministers and senior officials that it is examining how AI technologies are defined, deployed and supervised within Canada’s security community. The review will assess current practices, identify potential gaps or risks, and help shape future oversight efforts.

In a letter sent to cabinet ministers and agency heads, NSIRA chair Marie Deschamps said the study will provide insight into the growing use of emerging technologies in national security activities. Canadian agencies already rely on AI for tasks such as translating documents, detecting malware and analyzing large volumes of data, she noted.

The review agency has broad legal authority to access information held by departments and agencies under review, including classified and privileged material, excluding cabinet confidences. Requests may include documents, briefings, interviews, surveys, system access and, in some cases, independent inspections of technical systems.

The letter was sent to Prime Minister Mark Carney and several ministers, including those responsible for public safety, defense, foreign affairs and digital innovation, as well as to the heads of major security bodies such as the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, the RCMP and the Communications Security Establishment.

It also went to agencies not typically associated with national security, including the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the Public Health Agency of Canada, reflecting the expanding role of AI across government.

The RCMP said it supports independent review as essential to maintaining public trust. Previous advisory reports have urged security agencies to be more transparent about their AI use, though agencies have cautioned that national security limits what can be publicly disclosed.

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