IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Summer 2014 - 61

of a chain or franchise. For example, does one coffee shop have a
better privacy record than another
coffee shop down the street, and
will this knowledge impact consumer decision-making? (Fig. 7).

The Prototype in Use
Although the app is still being developed, and we have not attempted to
"launch" it in any concerted way, it
is already gaining exposure through
media coverage and public attention. The mobile app has had 1560
person visits, and the website has
attracted 2386 unique visits. The
database of user-generated entries is
beginning to be populated with 240
installations documented thus far.
The initial reaction to this app from
journalists and users confirms that
we are touching on issues of concern, and that individuals are gaining awareness of the extent of video
surveillance, how it affects them,
and what rights they have.
One potential issue that may
arise for individuals using the app
is that, in our increasingly securityconscious society, institutions and
organizations are often protective
about the nature of their surveillance systems. Members of the
research team have found that taking pictures of surveillance cameras is strongly discouraged by
organizational staff or security personnel, and citizens using the app
are likely to have similar experiences. There may also be the possibility, particularly at times when
concern over terrorism is elevated,
that users who are recorded by the
cameras they are photographing
might experience consequences.
This would occur if those monitoring the surveillance data deem
their actions suspicious. We do not
know the degree to which users
might consider these possibilities
and be deterred from using the
app. Another potential concern that
users might have is the degree to
which the app itself is privacy compliant. users can access the app's
privacy policy as the first item in

Fig. 6. Details about compliance.

Fig. 7. List view.

Fig. 5. Details screen.

the menu from the opening screen.
As the app is part of a university project, the Ontario Freedom
of Information and Protection of

the Act, we have also had a small
number of submissions regarding
private citizen's home cameras.
Ways to discourage the submission
of this information and to prevent
it from appearing in the application
are being developed.

Individuals are gaining
awareness as to the extent
of video surveillance.
Privacy Act (FIPPA) applies, and
our information collection practices
are based on that Act. One potential
issue that has emerged in the beta
is that, while corporate names and
addresses are considered public
information as per section 2.3 of

IEEE TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY MAGAZINE

SuMMEr 2014

Despite these potential user
concerns, we anticipate that as the
app becomes further known and
the database of installations grows,
a resource for users will become
available, allowing individuals to
learn more about the surveillance
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Summer 2014