816
submitted 1 year ago by Ninjazzon@infosec.pub to c/privacy@lemmy.ml

A set of smart vending machines at the University of Waterloo is expected to be removed from campus after students raised privacy concerns about their software.

The machines have M&M artwork on them and sell chocolate and other candy. They are located throughout campus, including in the Modern Languages building and Hagey Hall.

Earlier this month, a student noticed an error message on one of the machines in the Modern Languages building. It appeared to indicate there was a problem with a facial recognition application.

"We wouldn't have known if it weren't for the application error. There's no warning here," said River Stanley, a fourth-year student, who investigated the machines for an article in the university publication, mathNEWS.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] tsonfeir@lemm.ee 38 points 1 year ago

Why the living hell would anyone agree to develop this? What douchbags are doing that job?

[-] Neato@ttrpg.network 21 points 1 year ago

There's a lot of people in the world who do, in fact, like to eat.

[-] WhatAmLemmy@lemmy.world 21 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

There are also a lot of people, already in the wealthiest upper percentiles, who would implement big brother just to be slightly wealthier.

"I was only following orders"

[-] jaybone@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Problem is, if you refuse to do it, they’ll hire another developer who will.

[-] ICastFist@programming.dev 15 points 1 year ago

There are people who actually believe that kind of dystopic bullshit, even in the tech sector. I remember a colleague a few years ago, told me he liked targeted ads because "it knew what I wanted"

[-] tsonfeir@lemm.ee 8 points 1 year ago

Oh boy, those people frustrate me so much. The ones who have a verbal conversation about a topic they’ve never talked about before, like owning a cat, or taking a cruise to Alaska, and then giggle gleefully when they are inundated with cat litter and cruise ship ads wherever they go on the internet.

Some people just don’t care. And that’s actually fine. The ones who do care will try to look after the morons.

[-] lemann@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 1 year ago

Probably exploited labor, similar to those who have no choice but to work in scam call centers to survive.

Pretty unfortunate that things are like this IMO

[-] bjorney@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 year ago

I don't think software developers working in AI are "exploited labour just doing it to survive"

[-] Steve@startrek.website 6 points 1 year ago

Bro theres plenty of people who run scams in big offices all day every day

this post was submitted on 23 Feb 2024
816 points (100.0% liked)

Privacy

35064 readers
376 users here now

A place to discuss privacy and freedom in the digital world.

Privacy has become a very important issue in modern society, with companies and governments constantly abusing their power, more and more people are waking up to the importance of digital privacy.

In this community everyone is welcome to post links and discuss topics related to privacy.

Some Rules

Related communities

much thanks to @gary_host_laptop for the logo design :)

founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS