Patron identifications at establishments using SmartScan are not scanned arbitrarily. The purpose for using the SmartScan system is to assist in ensuring the safety and security of all patrons at our establishment. Not only does it allow us to refuse entry to problem patrons, but it also provides us with an accurate running count of the number of patrons entering and exiting the establishment. This information further ensures the safety of our patrons, as it provides an indicator of when we have reached our capacity limit as dictated by Alberta fire code regulations. As evidence of the success of the SmartScan system, in the few short months that the system has been used at various locations, we have been able to deny entry of several flagged patrons who had previously caused disturbances on our clients' premises.
The SmartScan system was first officially implemented during the first week of October 2008. After careful research, our clients chose the SmartScan system over other similar bar scanning systems based on our awareness of privacy issues. The SmartScan system was designed with consideration of the issues outlined in Order P2006-011 handed down by the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta. As a result, the SmartScan system operates differently from the scanning system that was central to that case. In order to address any concerns, therefore, it is necessary to explain how the SmartScan System works.
The establishment requests identification from each patron entering the premises. We encourage all patrons who enter to read the disclaimers, and information about the SmartScan system, which are posted and placed at the entrance to the establishment. This information is clearly visible to patrons, and signs have purposely been placed at eye-level for easy viewing. When a new identification is scanned into the SmartScan system, the system reads the barcode number and uses that number to create a unique patron ID number. No personal information is read nor collected from the barcode whatsoever; the barcode number itself is simply kept in the system as a way to access the unique patron ID number that is associated with that barcode number. Further, the barcode number is never visible to any system operators, and can only be viewed and retrieved by SmartScan administrators. The unique patron ID number is completely arbitrary and does not contain any part of the barcode number. In addition, the system takes a snapshot of the patron or the photograph on each patron.s identification on the first visit.
The following is an example of how the system works in practice. John Doe enters the premises for the first time. His identification is scanned and a unique patron ID number is created, for instance #192848. Upon each subsequent visit to any establishment with SmartScan, John Doe is recognized in the system as patron #192848. If, on any occasion, John Doe is involved in an incident while on a SmartScan premises (ie. an assault, theft, etc.), in order to identify which patron ID number is associated with John Doe, a live video of each patron entering the premises is also captured, stored, and reviewed following an incident, to assist in identifying John Doe based on his exact time of arrival. This is done in conjunction with a review of the photo taken from John Doe or his identification, which also corresponds with the time of John Doe's arrival and helps to locate which unique patron ID belongs to John Doe. Once it is located, John Doe's unique patron ID #192848 will then be flagged in the system. The next time John Doe attempts to enter the premises and his identification is scanned, the system will notify the operator of the flag associated with patron #192848, and John Doe will be denied entry. (Please see http://www.privcom.gc.ca/information/guide/2008/gl_vs_080306_e.asp for more information on this legal form of video surveillance).
Through use of the SmartScan system, the only pieces of your personal information that were collected by the establishment include your driver's license barcode number (found on the bottom right corner, and not to be confused with the driver's license number which is located at the top of Alberta drivers. licenses), and a snapshot of the photograph on your license or a freeze frame of you from the video. In order to remove that information from our system, we would need to identify your unique patron ID by locating you in our surveillance footage, or in our system by your driver's license photograph. The static image cannot be searched by name, address, postal code, birthdate, height, weight, gender or any other personal information, as this information was never collected by us and is therefore not in our system.
SmartScan takes privacy issues very seriously, and we understand the need to protect the privacy of patrons entering our establishments. We hope that the explanation we have provided have addressed your concerns.
Please send any questions or comments to: privacy@smart-scan.net
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