Victoria bars to continue scanning IDs

Bars will continue ID program

B.C. Privacy Commissioner ruled technology invades privacy

Roszan Holmen

News staff

Victoria bars won't stop scanning patrons ID's despite a ruling against the technology by the B.C. privacy commissioner.

"It's business as usual," said Scott Gurney, spokesperson for the Victoria Bar and Cabaret Association.

Gurney would not comment on an order by B.C. Privacy Commissioner David Loukidelis Tuesday regarding TreoScope Technologies, the system used by hundreds of bars across the province

By swiping drivers' licences, TreoScope collects too much information, such as drivers' licence numbers, wrote Loukidelis in his order.

Loukidelis also found that TreoScope stores too much information.

"I have not been provided with any reason related to improved customer safety for an establishment's retention of any information at all relating to customers who are not involved in violent incidents," wrote Loukidelis.

The order comes in response to a complaint against Vancouver's Wild Coyote bar. Technically, the order only applies to this bar but has implications for all B.C. bars using the same technology.

Any bar found using the system past the 30-day limit to comply would be in contravention of the Personal Information Protection Act, said University of Victoria political sciences professor Colin Bennett.

Violating bars would be open to new complaints to the privacy office.

But Owen Cameron, president of Treoscope Technologies, disagrees.

"It was an order specific to one nightclub and it has no affect on any other venue in British Columbia," he said.

Wild Coytoes' technology under investigation has already been updated according to recommendation by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner, Cameron said.

Grant Olson, owner of the Strathcona Hotel, was the first to introduce the ID scanning-equipment in 2008. Two weeks ago, the Victoria Bar and Cabaret Association announced that several others came on board.

Among those who invested in the technology include Element nightclub, Social Club, and Touch Lounge, formerly named the Red Jacket.

Loukidelis invited all those involved to consult his office to find an acceptable compromise, such as collecting information only from customers determined to be violent or undesirable.

rholmen@saanichnews.com