Home Depot in Leaside has installed mirror cameras at the self-checkout computers. They are getting mixed reviews as they did in the U.S. when they were installed there a few years ago. No one seemed to mind much when the The South Bayview Bulldog visited Home Depot recently, but Margaret@TorontoViewer tweeted Saturday that three people were “miffed” by mirror-cams. She said one man asked for the manager. A typical reaction in other stores is the man who said the camera, which presented him staring back, “creeped me out.” You have to wonder if it would be better if the camera were hidden. There’s something about your own image that is distracting. But Home Depot may feel it is doing you a favour. At least you know there’s a recording. In law, this is quite all right. Even though the camera has a much better memory than the average store clerk (needless to say) the principle of no privacy in a public place applies. None of us has privacy unless we are in our homes.
