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I asked Food Basics if they're using facial recognition (lemmy.ca)
submitted 2 years ago by to c/privacy@lemmy.ca
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I wanted to know if my local Food Basics store is tracking me.

I looked at the privacy policy on foodbasics.ca and not finding any mention of this, but wanting to be sure, I emailed their Privacy Officer.

This is the email I sent:

Hello,

I shop at the food basics store at [Address] in [City],

I would like to know if you use facial recognition or identification technology in the store? And if so, for what purpose, and if the information is stored for how long?

Thank you,
[Me]

Here is the response I got:

Hello,

I confirm that Metro does not use facial recognition technology or any other technology that allows the identification of individual at the Food Basics stores.

Best regards
Eliane
Legal Counsel

Just want to share to encourage everyone to learn about and exercise your consumer privacy rights.

all 11 comments

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[–] 18 points 2 years ago (5 children)

That’s great, except it’s a lie — if they use card readers, they’re using technology that allows the identification of an individual. This makes me question the veracity of the rest of the statement.

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  • [–] 15 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    Wouldn't that only be the identification of the cardholder? Not necessarily the individual using it.

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  • [–] [S] 8 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

    True, and they do use normal surveillance cameras too. Personally I am interested in facial recognition systems as I've seen the back-end of facial recognition systems in other retailers and it was incredibly creepy. They may not actually be keeping track of card #s the same way other stores do*, the biggest red flag in the statement to me is it doesn't rule out more general demographics tracking tech, which is something I don't think is covered by the legislation. There may be a little bit of a language barrier in this exchange as well. But I think most people aren't very aware of even what privacy laws exist, compared to eg. the GDPR which is quite common to hear about online.

    *(I want to try something similar for Mark's since they can be seen tracking card #s in a very overt way.)

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    • [–] 15 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    Cadillac Fairview, who owns all the major malls in Canadian major cities also said they don’t employ facial recognition in their stores and only use cameras for security. It was only later that journalists exposed that they were absolutely using it for years to collect and digitally profile all shoppers and tie them to IDs.

    https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.5781735

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    • [–] 3 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    Well they have just started installing new camera systems and yes they are facial recognition the albion store has it already installed is this legal?

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  • [–] [S] 4 points 2 years ago*

    Nice 😎 Sounds like someone needs to file a complaint with the Privacy Commissioner!

    Or email them to ask about it THEN complain and attach their email for extra style point!

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    • [–] 2 points 2 years ago

    Ive heard employees will be tracked also in the backroom and rumors of hidden cameras

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