Privacy advocates express concerns following an incident where a woman was marked as a national public safety risk by a Winnipeg bar using an ID scanning system, resulting in her being turned away from a venue at the Calgary Stampede in July.
The woman, identified as Alexandra, a lawyer from Montreal, visited the Riverside bar in St. Vital on June 6, where her driver’s license was scanned by a Patronscan ID scanner at the entrance. She was unaware of the reason for scanning her ID and had no knowledge that an incident that evening would lead to a flag that could potentially bar her from bars nationwide.
Feeling unwell during her visit, Alexandra rushed to the washroom at the Winnipeg bar, where she was asked to leave by a staff member. Despite requesting additional time to compose herself, she left without causing any trouble. Subsequently, on July 9, she attempted to enter a Calgary Stampede venue equipped with the same Patronscan scanner and was informed by the venue staff that she had a “criminal record,” which she disputed.
Upon further attempts to gain entry the next day, Alexandra discovered a flag linked to her ID at the venue, labeling her as a “public safety concern” due to an incident where she had entered the men’s washroom at the Riverside and refused to leave. This revelation raised questions for Alexandra about data sharing between establishments.
It was revealed that the Winnipeg bar is part of Patronscan’s flag network, designed to alert other venues about problematic individuals to enhance safety. Following Alexandra’s complaint, the Riverside bar acknowledged the error and removed the external flag from her record, attributing it to an internal mistake.
Experts highlighted concerns about the use of personal data when IDs are scanned at establishments, emphasizing the importance of informing individuals about the purpose and appropriate use of their information. They stressed the need for individuals to question data collection practices and understand how their information is handled and shared.
BarWatch, a program in Vancouver that utilizes Patronscan, allows bars to ban individuals deemed unsafe or disruptive across the program. The program has established guidelines and collaborates with law enforcement to maintain safety standards.
Notably, the incident sparked discussions about the adequacy of notice provided to individuals when their data is scanned, with experts pointing out potential privacy implications and subjective interpretations that could lead to real consequences. Concerns were raised about transparency and the need for individuals to be aware of how their data is collected and utilized by third parties.
Amidst the controversy, Alexandra is pursuing an official complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, seeking to address the violation of her rights and raise awareness about data privacy issues in the era of increasing surveillance and technological advancements.
