UN Canadian university vending machine error reveals use of facial recognition - There was no prior indication that the machine was using the technology, nor that a camera was monitoring student movement and purchases. Users were not asked for permission for their faces to be scanned or analysed.

A sign for the University of Waterloo in Canada. Photograph: The Canadian Press/Alamy

A malfunctioning vending machine at a Canadian university has inadvertently revealed that a number of them have been using facial recognition technology in secret.

Earlier this month, a snack dispenser at the University of Waterloo showed an error message – Invenda.Vending.FacialRecognition.App.exe – on the screen.

There was no prior indication that the machine was using the technology, nor that a camera was monitoring student movement and purchases. Users were not asked for permission for their faces to be scanned or analysed.

“We wouldn’t have known if it weren’t for the application error. There’s no warning here,” River Stanley, who reported on the discovery for the university’s newspaper, told CTV News.


Students at the University of Waterloo in Canada believe there is a camera inside this hole on the vending machine. Photograph: Colton Wiens/CTV Kitchener

Invenda, the company that produces the machines, advertises its use of “demographic detection software”, which it says can determine gender and age of customers. It claims the technology is compliant with GDPR, the European Union’s privacy standards, but it is unclear whether it meets Canadian equivalents.

In April, the national retailer Canadian Tire ran afoul of privacy laws in British Columbia after it used facial recognition technology without notifying customers. The government’s privacy commissioner said that even if the stores had obtained permission, the company failed to show a reasonable purpose for collecting facial information.

The University of Waterloo pledged in a statement to remove the Invenda machines “as soon as possible”, and that in the interim, it had “asked that the software be disabled”.

In the meantime, students at the Ontario university responded by covering the hole that they believe houses the camera with gum and paper.

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[Neo-Nazi Rich Evans]

which it says can determine gender and age of customers

so why does a vending machine operator need to know this? wouldn't it be more important and useful to just keep track of what items sell the fastest and price/cost of those items so you can adjust sale price if needed?

 

[XANA]

The Internet of Things fad was a mistake.

Why the fuck do you need facial recognition technology in a vending machine? Selling sugary foods to a captive audience isn't good enough for you?

Unless they're going to make a scoreboard for "most sodas purchased in a month", or "fatass of the year".

so why does a vending machine operator need to know this?

It's probably so that the manufacturers can figure out what Age/Sex demographic is likely to purchase X product, when compared to another Age/Sex demographic that chose to buy Y product instead. It's all marketing, and these people are basically a free-for-all for this data-mining.

 

[frozen_runner]

"I'm in public and someone took a picture of me! This is an outrage!

"Oh, I know Google and Facebook sell my info and spy on me when I use their services, but I'm from Gen Alpha. We don't believe in privacy the way you Boomers did."

so why does a vending machine operator need to know this?

Marketing info.

 

[Tasty Tatty]

Sure, it starts as a marketing tool, but then you end up in a government list when they realise you stopped buying Bud Lite.

 

[Paper Machete]

They're probably not using the data for vending machines themselves, but for other areas to better target customers. Like if young white women like a particular candy above other demographics than marketing in other places will likely try to target them harder. Evil either way and totally weird.

 

[Soggy Floppa]

Why is a vending machine using windows?

 

[frozen_runner]

Why is a vending machine using windows?

Lol imagine a vending machine BSODing

 

[whogoesthere]

Good, they deserve it for living in Canada.

 

[Celebrate Nite]

Lol imagine a vending machine BSODing

you joke, but I've seen places like Home Depot with their check-out centers that have BSOD'ed in the past.

Stores in malls that have screens that all they do is display advertisements and once in a blue moon you'll find one that has the windows taskbar at the bottom, and the people that run the places can't be fucked to fix it on their own.

 

[Conspiracy Mawile]

"demographic detection software" sounds like some shit from a third-rate scifi dystopian movie reviewed by RedLetterMedia. wtf

 

[stupid frog]

Aren't you always on camera in places like these anyway?

 

[East_Clintwood]

Invenda, the company that produces the machines, advertises its use of “demographic detection software”, which it says can determine gender and age of customers

How exactly does it do that? Are they suggesting there's some sort of immutable characteristics that differentiate the sexes because I'm pretty sure that's hate speech in Leafistan.

 

[Patty Q. Anonlinson]

Windows IoT is likely what it was using, and Windows also has a Kiosk mode which is used sometimes for advertisements/billboards (and is fucking hilarious looking when it bluescreens).

I'm intrigued also by this "demographic detection software", I can only imagine the uses, maybe recommendations, or:

*edit: retard spelling

 

[Kiwi Lime Pie]

so why does a vending machine operator need to know this? wouldn't it be more important and useful to just keep track of what items sell the fastest and price/cost of those items so you can adjust sale price if needed?

I thought perhaps this would be another version of the thread where Amazon had coffee maker with a camera inside. I could see if the school or whomever placed the vending machine used a camera for security reasons because people can and will try to vandalize them or otherwise try to get what's inside for free. This, however, seems more nefarious.

The Internet of Things fad was a mistake.

This biggest issue I see with IoT devices is the lack of information/data security. With so many more devices collecting personal information of some sort, sometimes without full knowledge or consent of the user, its no surprise that IoT devices are being hacked so much and there are so many data breaches happening now.

It's probably so that the manufacturers can figure out what Age/Sex demographic is likely to purchase X product, when compared to another Age/Sex demographic that chose to buy Y product instead. It's all marketing, and these people are basically a free-for-all for this data-mining.

I definitely believe this is being used for data mining. This is the kind of action that leaves people feeling distrustful of facial recognition in general.

 

[Agamemnon Busmalis]

What a stupid, pointless waste. We need to get interest rates up to around 10% and keep them there forever to flush this malinvestment for good.

 

[Sweeter and Savoury]

Canadians don't have right or freedoms. They just need to accept this fact and stop complaining about it. They voted in Trudeau and his progressive posse twice now and have no one to blame but themselves.

When PP starts up the great Canadian firewall next year and outlaws VPN's the plebs will screech but again this is EXACTLY what Canadians asked for and even more it's what such a weak, cowardly, sheep style populace deserves.

These fuckers cheered on when Trudeau unleashed the fucking WAR MEASURES ACT on a group of protesters and lol'd when the courts allowed a 300 million dollar lawsuit that included anyone who even donate to the protest as a defendant. They bleated and cringed when called bigots by the very people who want them dead and broken and grovel at the alter of trannyism to the point where calling a man in a dress a male will end up in jail time.

No, the Canadian people deserve the totalitarian hell state they helped create so fuck em all.

BTW I am Canadian but thank sweet jebus I have dual citizenship.

 

[CaptainAutism69]

No way in hell is it GDPR compliant.

 

[Fried-Rice12]

Why do I feel like this vending machine company has ties to the chicoms?
Because it sounds like a good way to keep tabs on their operatives in Canada (not to mention doing some intel gathering).
And for some fat middle aged chicom intelligence officer at a desk to get some free fapping material of course, because comrade sum ting wong works so very hard for the party and deserves a reward.

 

[World Famous Quasi Payer]

Always safe to assume to you are being watched in any public space. Especially in any built up areas. The all seeing electric eye.