Privacy advocates express concerns following an incident where a woman was flagged as a potential public safety risk by a Winnipeg bar’s ID scanning system, resulting in her being turned away from a Calgary Stampede venue in July. The woman, identified as Alexandra, a lawyer from Montreal, visited the Riverside bar in St. Vital on June 6. During her visit, her driver’s license was scanned by a Patronscan ID scanner at the entrance without explanation. Unaware at the time, this scanning incident later triggered a flag that led to her being barred from venues nationwide.
Alexandra recounted feeling unwell while at the Winnipeg bar and briefly excusing herself to the washroom. After being asked to leave, she departed without causing any trouble. Subsequently, when she attempted to enter a Calgary Stampede venue on July 9, she was informed by the scanner operator that she had a “criminal record,” which was untrue. Despite trying again the next day, she was repeatedly denied entry and eventually discovered a flag associated with her ID labeled her a “public safety concern” due to an alleged incident in the men’s restroom at the Riverside bar.
Investigations revealed that the Winnipeg bar participates in Patronscan’s flag network, a system designed to alert other establishments about problematic individuals across North America. Following Alexandra’s complaint, the bar acknowledged an error in sharing her flag externally and promptly removed it from their system. The incident raised questions about the appropriate use of Patronscan for public safety and highlighted the importance of transparency and proper handling of personal data.
Privacy experts emphasized the need for individuals to understand how their information is utilized when their IDs are scanned. Organizations are required by federal privacy laws to inform individuals about the purpose of collecting and using personal data in a meaningful manner. Teresa Scassa, a Canada Research Chair in Information Law, stressed the importance of questioning the necessity and appropriateness of data collection practices during ID scans.
Despite the privacy concerns raised, programs like BarWatch in Vancouver have successfully implemented Patronscan to enhance safety in their venues. BarWatch enforces strict codes of conduct and collaborates with law enforcement to identify and ban individuals posing threats to public safety. However, the incident underscores the need for clear signage and transparent data-sharing practices to protect individuals’ privacy rights.
As the woman involved pursues an official complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, the case has drawn the attention of privacy advocates and former commissioners who view the incident as a potential violation of privacy rights. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and accountability in the age of increasing surveillance and data utilization by third parties.
