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.

  • @[email protected]
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    1210 months ago

    Every person should have a tracking implant and anyone should be able to access it.

    In that case, I would guess that you’re a man, and one who has never had a stalker.

    • @Aux
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      -710 months ago

      Privacy is what enables stalkers.

        • Saik0
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          210 months ago

          Their argument would be that the stalker having privacy allows them to do the stalking…

          they are indeed unhinged. If everything was magically public like they wish. We’d have no resources as every government official would be outed for what they were hiding. Would be complete anarchy real fast.

        • @Aux
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          -110 months ago

          And you’re deluded.