At the Movies (nope - not about the Oscars)

Cineplex is getting heat for mask and CO2 issues.

From LandBack

It says, "All guests are asked to lower medical masks and hoods while having their tickets scanned."

Why would Cineplex need people to remove masks and hoods when scanning their tickets?? Tickets can be given to other people so it's not a fraud issue. People aren't being asked for ID for proof of age. These aren't restricted movies. Hmmm....

Kathryn pointed out,

"Does Cineplex understand that requiring disabled patrons to unmask would likely constitute a human right violation in Ontario, specifically, that of adverse effect discrimination? Adverse effect discrimination occurs, 'where a requirement, policy, standard, qualification, rule or factor that 'appears neutral excludes or disadvantages a group protected under the Code' (OHRC, 2016). Friends, keep this in your back pocket. It is powerful." 

And I think Covid Canada put it all together well:

"I wonder if Cineplex is trying to use facial recognition to gather data about its customers. In which case, I wonder if it is a breach of privacy. So there's privacy AND accessibility concerns now."

They linked this article: "Ontario university to remove vending machines due to facial recognition technology concerns" from last month when the University of Waterloo took out 29 vending machines after a student posted a photo of a machine's error message related to its facial recognition program. A student publication indicated that "express, meaningful consent" is necessary to use facial recognition technology. The university, home to a prestigious computer science program, said it was "unaware of the technology".

Another parent commented,

"My kid went to your theater with school. As CO2 > 1600ppm, kid went to washroom, then watched movie from hallway, but returned to get stuff and was trapped at seat for a 10 minute discussion, where CO2 reached 2198."  

And a little part of me wonders if one of the reasons there's been such a fight against masks is because there's facial recognition tech all over the place!! 

It's all very curious, eh??

Here's how well masks work when the CO2 is crazy high:

Keep masking for your safety and to foil their facial recognition tech!!

ETA (March 25)