Mall real estate company collected 5M images of shoppers • Hacker News Board

Re: Mall real estate company collected 5M images of shoppers

#131

Post by sellyme » Fri, Oct 30, 2020, 2:45 AM UTC

reaperducer wrote: post #67

strawberrypuree wrote: post #2

>The company also argued shoppers were made aware of the activity through decals it had placed on shopping mall entry doors that referred to Cadillac Fairview's privacy policy. Do what now? Physical spaces have privacy policies? We're really sleepwalking into a dystopia. If you don't like the privacy policy of your shopping mall, you're free to shop... online, where they get even more behavioral data on you. Yikes.

Physical spaces have privacy policies? I've seen TOSes on mall doors before. They've been white letters on clear glass at just about foot level written in letters about 1cm tall. They were usually about violence and guns and shoplifting being grounds to ejection and banning. The only people who ever see them is the decal printing company, the guy who installs them, and mice.

The ones here all say "No Roller-blading", which should be a good indicator as to how relevant they are.

Re: Mall real estate company collected 5M images of shoppers

#132

Post by gruez » Fri, Oct 30, 2020, 3:10 AM UTC

arminiusreturns wrote: post #130

gruez wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>are they doing LTE data collection too? Don't cell carriers already sell your "anonymized" location data to marketers?

How is that even legal?! I mean I know the gov gets their data via abuse of the third party doctrine, but just straight up selling your data? If I had to guess they slap a dubious label of"anonymized" data...

Probably because you agreed to it (buried in the ToS somewhere), and there's no government regulations forbidding it.

Re: Mall real estate company collected 5M images of shoppers

#133

Post by nitrogen » Fri, Oct 30, 2020, 3:17 AM UTC

0xCMP wrote: post #126

vel0city wrote: post #120

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Personal information under these laws are defined as: age, name, ID numbers, income, ethnic origin, or blood type; opinions, evaluations, comments, social status, or disciplinary actions; and employee files, credit records, loan records, medical records, existence of a dispute between a consumer and a merchant, intentions (for example, to acquire goods or services, or change jobs). How does video of people passing by…

The intent to buy things in the mall (or not) for one

Age and (to a limited extent) ethnic origin can also be inferred from video. So can income and social status, via apparel, posture, etc.

Re: Mall real estate company collected 5M images of shoppers

#134

Post by randycupertino » Fri, Oct 30, 2020, 3:42 AM UTC

littledude wrote: post #97

randylahey wrote: post #41

I could not be happier that wearing a mask is more or less societally acceptable now.

there is camera software that records an individuals gait/way they walk as a unique fingerprint/identifier

They should use that software to identify the Missy Beavers killer! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9b1dIi9E2M Personally I still think it is the father in law even though he allegedly has an alibi.

Think of what a PR coup it would be for the camera company if they resolved a notorious cold case using their tech.

Re: Mall real estate company collected 5M images of shoppers

#135

Post by nitrogen » Fri, Oct 30, 2020, 4:20 AM UTC

staplers wrote: post #70

arminiusreturns wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I never turn on wifi or bluetooth away from home, my question is, are they doing LTE data collection too?

It's plausible. The mall could have a stingray device monitoring everyone's data.

It's been done before, there was a big outcry about it a while back. Malls were using fake cell phone basestations to locate phones within the mall.

Re: Mall real estate company collected 5M images of shoppers

#136

Post by buildbot » Fri, Oct 30, 2020, 5:06 AM UTC

koolba wrote: post #108

mynegation wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For non-Canadians here: Shoppers is pharmacies and LCBO is provincially-controlled liquor store that has near monopoly on hard liquor sales.

“Near monopoly”? Outside of duty free, where else can you buy booze (not beer) besides the LCBO?

Doesn’t this vary by province? BC has quite a few non- bc liquor stores, at least in Vancouver.

Re: Mall real estate company collected 5M images of shoppers

#137

Post by itronitron » Fri, Oct 30, 2020, 5:10 AM UTC

canada_dry wrote: post #71

What the article doesn't address is that these same organizations fingerprint visitors phones [i] too. From a retailer's point-of-view I totally get the rational and value behind collecting these metrics... from a privacy point-of-view it is a bit disconcerting. [i] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/cadillac-fairview-mal...

I was standing in a shopping mall last year waiting for a family member when I noticed a person walking towards/past me in dark muted colors wearing a backpack in the same colors across their chest carrying a laptop and a large phone/tablet.

They were clearly working and doing some kind of scan of the mall. Unfortunately I didn't notice soon enough to take their picture or chat with them. Would have been nice to know what they were doing.

Re: Mall real estate company collected 5M images of shoppers

#138

Post by Animats » Fri, Oct 30, 2020, 5:13 AM UTC

randycupertino wrote: post #61

randylahey wrote: post #41

I could not be happier that wearing a mask is more or less societally acceptable now.

I was curious if the value of the facial recognition startups is at risk with masks becoming more prevalent. Wouldn't be surprised if they are lobbying against mask mandates and mask enforcement as their entire business model must be at risk.

Newer facial recognition systems work fine with people wearing masks.[1][2]

[1] https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190501114602.h...

[2] https://youtu.be/7mP_cdK-ktI

Re: Mall real estate company collected 5M images of shoppers

#139

Post by imgabe » Fri, Oct 30, 2020, 5:19 AM UTC

0xCMP wrote: post #127

imgabe wrote: post #125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So if we make it illegal for the mall to have security cameras then the NSA will stop spying on people?

No, you make the data collection illegal and with liability like it appears Canada already did hence why this company is in trouble with regulators. Data should be legally made in to toxic waste we all know it should be treated as.

Again, if the worry is about a corrupt and hostile government, I fail to see what making it illegal accomplishes. Who do you think the regulators are?

Yes, regulation is great with a just and fair government. If the government can't be trusted, then neither can the regulations. If we can't trust the government, then we need to replace it with one we can trust.

Re: Mall real estate company collected 5M images of shoppers

#140

Post by kevin_thibedeau » Fri, Oct 30, 2020, 5:22 AM UTC

sellyme wrote: post #131

reaperducer wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Physical spaces have privacy policies? I've seen TOSes on mall doors before. They've been white letters on clear glass at just about foot level written in letters about 1cm tall. They were usually about violence and guns and shoplifting being grounds to ejection and banning. The only people who ever see them is the decal printing company, the guy who installs them, and mice.

The ones here all say "No Roller-blading", which should be a good indicator as to how relevant they are.

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