Privacy

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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.

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'Facial recognition' error message on vending machine sparks concern at University of Waterloo (kitchener.ctvnews.ca)

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

83 comments fedilink hide all child comments

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.

(page 2) 34 comments

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[–] Facebones@reddthat.com 0 points 1 year ago

FatBastard.gif

[–] const_void@lemmy.ml -5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (5 children)

~~This story seems fishy. Why would the hole for the facial recognition camera be so poorly made? It looks like someone made it with a screwdriver, not something that was made in a factory.~~

Edit: got it

[–] jeffhykin@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

(After seeing your edit) to be fair, there are a ton of overblown hype articles that are actually built on nothing. The opposite side of skepticism (jumping onto the outrage bandwagon) is worse and more common than being skeptical. Its a shame things are not easier to verify.

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