University to remove vending machines after student claimed they used facial recognition

The University of Waterloo has removed the vending machines. (Representational)

A university in Canada is set to remove a series of smart vending machines from its campus following concerns over the utilization of facial-recognition technology. The controversy unfolded when a vigilant student captured a photo of an M&M-branded vending machine displaying an error code hinting at facial recognition software.

As investigations unfolded, the University of Waterloo, home to these machines, has decided to take decisive action, raising questions about the intrusion of technology into campus life.

A Reddit user, SquidKid47, shared an image of an M&M vending machine displaying an error code related to facial recognition technology. This prompted River Stanley, a writer for the local student publication MathNews, to delve deeper into the matter.

Stanley's investigation revealed that the smart vending machines, supplied by Adaria Vending Services and manufactured by Invenda Group, were owned by Mars, the parent company of M&M's.

Adaria Vending Services defended the technology, asserting, "an individual person cannot be identified using the technology in the machines." The director of technology services emphasized that the machines functioned as motion sensors, activating the purchasing interface based on facial detection, without capturing or storing images of customers. The statement stressed GDPR compliance, adhering to European Union privacy regulations.

Invenda Group echoed the GDPR compliance sentiment, assuring that the technology did not store information on permanent memory mediums. The company's statement clarified that the software conducted local processing of digital image maps without transmitting data over the internet to the cloud.

The FAQ section said the collection of non-personal data, focusing solely on the presence of a person, estimated age, and gender without any association with individuals.

Despite these assurances, the University of Waterloo remained steadfast its decision to remove the machines from the campus, with a representative stating, "The university has asked that these machines be removed from campus as soon as possible. In the meantime, we've asked that the software be disabled."