Privacy concerns raised, as Winnipeg drug store staff don body-worn cameras to ramp up security

CBC News

· Posted: Mar 14, 2025 11:29 PM EDT | Last Updated: 11 minutes ago

Some unit members astatine a Shoppers Drug Mart successful a Winnipeg portion promenade are present donning body-worn cameras — portion of a caller aviator task aimed improving information and security — but 1 adept points retired it could infringe connected lawsuit privacy. 

Cashiers astatine the Shoppers successful Dominion Centre, astatine the country of Marion Street and St. Mary's Road, were seen Friday wearing devices astir the size of a smartphone. 

Loblaw Companies Ltd., Shoppers Drug Mart's genitor company, told CBC News information successful the aviator task is voluntary, hoping it tin make a safer acquisition for customers and staff.

A spokesperson for Winnipeg constabulary told CBC officers person been called to the Shoppers Drug Mart astatine Dominion Centre 12 times truthful acold this year.

Police said officers received 70 calls for work to Dominion Centre's Shoppers past year, the aforesaid fig they received successful 2022, but galore much than the 24 calls they got successful 2023.

The bulk of calls progressive retail theft, portion a fistful were for robberies, spot harm and fraud, constabulary said. 

John Linossier, a regular patron astatine the Dominion Centre store, said theft is simply a mean occurrence that helium has witnessed himself astatine the store.

"Just this week, I was successful there, and idiosyncratic was trying to bargain a 30-pack of batteries, which is worthy astir $30," helium said. "They gotta bash thing due to the fact that they're losing wealth similar crazy."

While helium isn't convinced body-worn cameras volition beryllium a deterrent for shoplifting, helium said it could assistance unit get records of those who are stealing from the store — which helium said could beryllium utilized successful a constabulary probe oregon for tribunal matters. 

"It's conscionable a large problem, that's all. Problem of our times," helium said. 

WATCH | Shoppers Drug Mart unit wearing assemblage cameras successful caller aviator task to deter crime:

Pauline Gerrard, different Shoppers patron astatine Dominion Centre, says she has witnessed however information astatine the store has been ramped up successful the past year. But the thought of being recorded by the caller body-worn cameras doesn't rather beryllium good with her yet. 

"There's a equilibrium … I consciousness for the concern successful presumption of theft, I've decidedly seen challenges," she said. "In presumption of privacy, I'm not definite I'm brainsick astir being recorded … [but] I don't cognize what a amended solution is, though."

Concerns implicit customers' privacy

Ann Cavoukian, erstwhile privateness commissioner of Ontario, said stores rolling retired these kinds of measures should, astatine the precise least, show wide notices of what's being recorded and person the footage deleted astatine the extremity of the time if thing happened astatine the store that would warrant the request to support it. 

"People's facial images are precise sensitive. They tin beryllium utilized and abused successful a assortment of manners. What are they doing with that information?" Cavoukian said.

Loblaws said if the footage is not required for investigation, it is deleted arsenic soon arsenic possible. Otherwise, it will beryllium stored successful a secured cloud-based system.

But Cavoukian said it is inactive unclear however the institution volition measure whether oregon not to save the recorded material. 

"Is idiosyncratic pursuing up connected this astatine the extremity of the day? Does idiosyncratic instrumentality announcement and marque definite … the information is instantly deleted astatine the extremity of the day?" she said. "I'm guessing they're not going to specified lengths to get escaped of the information."

While Cavoukian understands stores' concerns astir retail theft, the measurement tin infringe connected customers's privacy.

"A full scope of activities that you don't privation to beryllium captured connected camera that's nary one's business. You spell successful to bargain thing astatine a Shoppers Drug Mart oregon prime up a prescription," she said. 

"Privacy is captious to our society. [It] forms the instauration of our freedom. Freedom is everything," she said. 

Besides the retail store astatine Dominion Centre, a Shoppers Drug Mart connected Osborne Street and different determination connected Marion Street person adopted the aviator project, Loblaws said.

Superstores connected Regent Avenue and McPhillips Street are besides outfitting body-worn cameras to immoderate of their employees.