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.
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.
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Students and their silly beliefs. Don’t worry about that lens shining in the hole. It’s just a useless hole!
Strategic use of a cordless drill can ensure it’s a useless hole.
that’s vandalism and can get you in trouble.
A simple sticker though, which can be easily removed, doesn’t count as vandalism, and can be done over and over again for almost no cost.
That or a more elaborate sticker/photo taped far enough away so the camera may focus on it. Maybe an image of Alfred E. Neuman? Or some kind of FU meme?
Man, I sure got a lot of stickers, too…