369
submitted 8 months ago by L4s@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world

University vending machine error reveals use of secret facial recognition | A malfunctioning vending machine at a Canadian university has inadvertently revealed that a number of them have been usin...::Snack dispenser at University of Waterloo shows facial recognition message on screen despite no prior indication

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] TrumpetX@programming.dev 4 points 8 months ago

Everyone seems concerned about what it could be doing, not what it is doing.

I could sit next to a vending machine and make notes on the gender and sex of each patron for demographic purposes, nothing would be illegal.

Why? Well, that's easy, I want to stock my vending machine in order to make money. Instead of testing different layouts which would take a lot of time, I could predict how well certain stock would do based on preexisting market research.

This appears to be just that, but with a camera.

Now, you can argue "but it could be worse"! That's not a valid argument. It could always be worse for things you don't know about. If it holds up to be true, as stated, it's just what it is.

[-] Bridger@sh.itjust.works 26 points 8 months ago

If you're sitting there taking notes it is obvious what you're doing and the users of the machine can opt out of using it. With hidden cameras, not so much.

[-] TrumpetX@programming.dev 3 points 8 months ago

It's a public space. You have no expectation of privacy. It's the same reason license plate scanners are a thing.

It's the automated equivalent of eyes.

[-] jdhdbdk@lemmy.world 3 points 8 months ago

Not every country has those laws, and in a lot of them you have expectation of privacy in public!

load more comments (4 replies)
load more comments (4 replies)
load more comments (9 replies)
this post was submitted on 24 Feb 2024
369 points (100.0% liked)

Technology

59017 readers
2505 users here now

This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.


Our Rules


  1. Follow the lemmy.world rules.
  2. Only tech related content.
  3. Be excellent to each another!
  4. Mod approved content bots can post up to 10 articles per day.
  5. Threads asking for personal tech support may be deleted.
  6. Politics threads may be removed.
  7. No memes allowed as posts, OK to post as comments.
  8. Only approved bots from the list below, to ask if your bot can be added please contact us.
  9. Check for duplicates before posting, duplicates may be removed

Approved Bots


founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS