Metrolinx is sharing travel data from Presto card users with police and in many cases without a warrant.
The transit agency confirmed to CP24 they have received 26 requests so far this year from police and have granted 12 of them.
Six pertained to alleged criminal offences, the six others because of missing person reports.
Metrolinx spokesperson Anne Marie Aikins tells CP24 "We follow all applicable laws and only release tap history to police for a 24-hour period and only under the strictest guidelines for a criminal investigation or missing person case. It is a very similar practice used by credit card companies or bank institutions."
10 transit agencies in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area use the Presto system.
Presto cardholders don't have to register their card online, but it is encourged by Metrolinx. Once registered, users can then access a complete history of their travel.
In a written statement provided to CP24 on Saturday, Aikins said that privacy is"extremely important"to Metrolinx and as a result only "very specific" information, such as travel on a particular day, can be released.
Metrolinx has only been tracking police requests this year, so no data is available on any previous years.
With files from CP24