9 votes

Alberta privacy commissioner to investigate use of facial recognition software on Calgary malls

8 comments

  1. [4]
    dblohm7
    Link
    Told ya!

    Told ya!

    3 votes
    1. Catt
      Link Parent
      I did think of you when I saw this. :) Edit: for anyone else reading this, check out previous post

      I did think of you when I saw this. :)

      Edit: for anyone else reading this, check out previous post

      2 votes
    2. [2]
      s4b3r6
      Link Parent
      Well, we'll have a birthday when we find if you were right or not! Does signage indicate consent?

      Sibbald said investigations of this nature usually take around nine months to complete.

      Well, we'll have a birthday when we find if you were right or not! Does signage indicate consent?

      1 vote
      1. Catt
        Link Parent
        Not an expert, but signage in Canada is generally not sufficient.

        Not an expert, but signage in Canada is generally not sufficient.

        1 vote
  2. [4]
    TeaBagTwat
    Link
    I don't live in the US so don't know the ins and outs of your laws but this technology has been used around the world in casinos for years to keep track of customers and cheaters. How is this any...

    I don't live in the US so don't know the ins and outs of your laws but this technology has been used around the world in casinos for years to keep track of customers and cheaters. How is this any different?

    I'm fully aware it is on private property and this is most like legal at least in some sense but this is a gross invasion of our privacy, if this data is than shared with others who use the technology they can see where you go, which shops you go into, what displays you look at, what your interests are, this technology for private use should be outlawed.

    2 votes
    1. [2]
      super_james
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      Calgary is in Canada mate! nb. if a Canadian invites you on a road trip expect to drive about a country length to get to the next city.

      Calgary is in Canada mate!

      nb. if a Canadian invites you on a road trip expect to drive about a country length to get to the next city.

      3 votes
      1. TeaBagTwat
        Link Parent
        Well my geographic ignorance shines through once again.

        Well my geographic ignorance shines through once again.

        3 votes
    2. Catt
      Link Parent
      This article is actually in Canada, where we have PIPA, which in short was passed a few years ago to protect the privacy of Canadians and basically requires consent to be actively given when our...

      This article is actually in Canada, where we have PIPA, which in short was passed a few years ago to protect the privacy of Canadians and basically requires consent to be actively given when our data is collected, shared and stored.

      Personally, in this case of malls, I don't believe this is all that different from having a physical person stand in the mall and make estimates on people's age an d gender. However the secrecy of it is in question. The malls obviously do not believe they have broken any laws, but this investigation will determine that.

      Outside of this specific case, I do believe people need to be more aware of just how easy and how much of their personal info is gathered and aggregated. Sure, some mall knowing I searched for Hot Topic isn't a big deal, but when there are dozen of sources of various personal data being improperly stored and sold, that is.

      Side note: CCV for security I believe is handled differently because the technology outpaced the laws.

      Edit to add: CCV is also in our news and courts quite often and I suspect the rules around that, especially for businesses, will change.

      2 votes