Maple News reports that travelers entering Canada through certain land ports of entry are now being screened using artificial intelligence (AI), as part of a new initiative by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
The CBSA has developed a tool called the Travel Compliance Indicator (TCI), which uses predictive algorithms to assess whether a traveler should undergo additional inspection. This AI-driven system assigns a “compliance score” to each individual, helping officers determine the likelihood that a person or their belongings could pose a risk or violate customs regulations.
Currently, the TCI is being used at six undisclosed land border crossings. The agency plans to expand its use to all land ports of entry by the end of 2027. Future phases of deployment will include airports and seaports, though no specific timeline has been disclosed for those next stages.
According to CBSA, this technology aims to enhance both security and efficiency at border crossings. By analyzing five years’ worth of historical travel data, the TCI can identify patterns and flag only those travelers who are statistically more likely to be non-compliant. This makes it possible to reduce the frequency of “false positives”—cases where compliant individuals are mistakenly sent for additional screening.
This, in turn, could lead to faster processing times and a smoother experience for most travelers, particularly newcomers to Canada who may already face complex immigration procedures. CBSA suggests that the tool enables border services officers to make quicker and more informed decisions while maintaining national security standards.
The implementation of AI at land borders reflects a broader move towards digital modernization in Canada’s immigration and border processes. While the system is designed to ease processing for compliant travelers, privacy and oversight concerns are likely to be part of ongoing discussions as the tool becomes more widely used.
As with all new technologies affecting public entry, Maple News will continue to monitor updates from the government and provide immigration professionals and newcomers with the latest developments on this and other digital screening tools.