A day after Edmonton's Chief of Police issued a public apology for a mistake which left the photo of a teenaged suspect posted on a public website; Alberta's Privacy Commissioner is investigating the case.

Privacy Commissioner Jill Clayton said she can't focus her investigation on the situation that placed the youth's photo and name on a public website, but she will look more closely at the controversial campaign the Edmonton Police Service has been running to track down Edmontonians with outstanding warrants, and encourage them to come forward.

Clayton said she cannot focus on why the photos were disclosed because she does not have jurisdiction to look at disclosure of information under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Earlier this week, the EPS ended up in hot water after the photo and name of a teenaged suspect ended up online as part of their Project Operation Warrant Execution or ‘OWE' campaign.

The photo of a teenaged suspect was posted online and in local newspapers along with the photos of others – against the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Police Chief Rod Knecht apologized for the misstep Tuesday, and asked the RCMP to investigate the error.

"The controversy that has erupted in the past couple days has heightened that interest in curiosity," Clayton said. "So I would like to reassure myself and to be able to reassure Albertans that this has been though out, well planned, and it is compliant with the legislations."

Clayton said she would investigate Project ‘OWE' to ensure it is compliant with the Freedom of Information and Privacy Protection Act.

"EPS is a public body, subject to FOIP and any disclosure of information by the Edmonton Police Service has to be compliant with the legislation.

"I want to make sure those kinds of considerations have been taken into account when this initiative was planned and coordinated."

Clayton said she will look at whose photos have been disclosed, how those decisions are made, and what Project ‘OWE' will look like in the future.

The Privacy Commissioner has the authority to order Edmonton police to stop disclosing the identities of people under Project ‘OWE', if she finds it's not compliant with legislation.

With files from Sonia Sunger