The report found that Clearview's technology created a significant risk to individuals by allowing law enforcement and companies to match photos against its database of more than three billion images, including Canadians and children.

The commissioners called for Clearview to stop offering its technology in Canada, stop collecting images of Canadians and to delete the photos of Canadians it had already collected in its database.

If the company refuses to follow the recommendations, the four privacy commissioners will "pursue other actions available under their respective acts to bring Clearview into compliance with Canadian laws", the statement said.

However, the four acknowledged that under current laws, and even under proposed changes to federal privacy laws, their ability to penalize the company or force it to comply with Canadian orders is limited.

"What Clearview does, is mass surveillance and it is illegal", federal privacy commissioner Daniel Therrien told hacks.

"It is an affront to individuals' privacy rights and inflicts broad based harm on all members of society who find themselves continually in a police lineup. This is completely unacceptable."