CF won’t say if it’s scanning customer faces at Polo Park

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This article was published 26/07/2018 (2248 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CF Polo Park might be using facial-recognition technology on Winnipeggers without their consent or knowledge while they’re shopping at the popular mall.

Cadillac Fairview Corp., which owns Polo Park and dozens of shopping centres across the country, has confirmed it is using facial-recognition technology at a number of its properties.

But the real estate giant refused to say if the technology is being employed at Polo Park, leaving local shoppers in the dark on whether they’re being photographed without their consent.

After being contacted Thursday by the Free Press, a Cadillac Fairview spokeswoman responded to the request for comment Friday afternoon, declining to reveal whether the technology, which many characterize as invasive, is being used in Winnipeg.

Facial-recognition technology, which is becoming more popular and pervasive, is being used by Cadillac Fairview to track traffic in its centres and determine the age and gender of shoppers.

“Thanks for reaching out, but we are not sharing further details about the program, including locations, as we view this as proprietary,” Cadillac Fairview director of corporate communications Janine Ramparas told the Free Press in a written statement.

That Cadillac Fairview is using facial-recognition technology was only made public after a shopper at Chinook Centre in Calgary spotted facial-recognition software in operation on one of the mall directories, according to a report from the CBC.

The shopper said it appeared the software had accidently been left visible on an open browser on the digital mall directory.

Cadillac Fairview has subsequently confirmed it is employing facial-recognition technology at two of its malls in Calgary.

While it has also acknowledged the technology is being employed at other malls around the country, it is refusing to reveal specific locations.

Cadillac Fairview claims the images taken of shoppers without their consent are not being stored or saved.

“Cadillac Fairview possesses one of North America’s finest portfolios of retail and office properties,” a statement on the company’s website reads. The website shows it owns 67 properties in Canada, valued at $29 billion.

ryan.thorpe@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @rk_thorpe