University of Waterloo to Remove Facial Recognition Vending Machines

Following student backlash, the University of Waterloo has pledged to remove M&M-branded vending machines that covertly collected facial recognition data.

• A malfunctioning vending machine at the University of Waterloo revealed the covert collection of facial recognition data, sparking student outrage.
• The vending machines, which were supposed to enhance sales through facial recognition, did not have consent to collect or analyze students' facial data.
• Investigations revealed that the machines could estimate ages and genders of users, raising concerns about privacy and consent.
• The university has committed to removing the machines and disabling the software in the meantime, with plans to replace them with non-surveillance models.
• Questions arise about the compliance of these machines with privacy laws, as they collected sensitive data without explicit consent.

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