Latest news with #LiveBarn
Hamilton Spectator
20 minutes ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Wellington North unsure about live streaming youth, amateur sports
WELLINGTON NORTH — Privacy was a real concern for Wellington North councillors when faced with a proposal to stream local youth and amateur sports using a private platform at a council meeting on Monday evening. The request came from local sports organizations like minor hockey and Southeast Surge, who requested the township install LiveBarn, a subscription platform providing live and on-demand video coverage of amateur youth sports events, at the Arthur Arena and Mount Forest & District Sports Complex. An optional service that allows user groups to decide whether activities are streamed or recorded, township staff proposed a three-year term with the technology to be installed by mid-September. Instead, councillors asked staff to bring the bylaw back at their next meeting so they have time to learn more about the service and ensure the proper safety precautions are taken to ensure residents' privacy and preserve their liability in the event something did occur. 'I'm really concerned about that potential for human error,' said Mayor Andy Lennox. 'Schedules change. Minor hockey has to adapt. Our staff are busy keeping the ice prepared. How can you assure me that we have a foolproof system in place?' When asked about a recent situation in Waterloo Region where children were recorded by LiveBarn without permission, CAO Brooke Lambert said there is 'certainly a possibility' of human error occurring, but that the company is working to implement safeguards. If the agreement was signed, Lambert said LiveBarn would train township staff on the technology. Logins for the service could also be extended to the minor hockey and skate club presidents if they want to participate. In the event some children on the team give consent while others don't, Lambert suggested they put a privacy pin in place, not stream and distribute the recordings privately, or not record. The service has been used in Drayton at the PMD Arena since 2024 and was recently approved by the Town of Minto for the Harriston and Palmerston Arenas. Isabel Buckmaster is the Local Journalism Initiative reporter for GuelphToday. LJI is a federally-funded program. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Privacy expert reacts after summer camps were unknowingly livestreamed in Waterloo region
Kids and staff at summer camps in Waterloo region were livestreamed last week without permission. The cameras set up in local arenas are used to broadcast minor hockey league games, as well as other sporting events. But they were accidentally left on. The operator of the cameras, LiveBarn, said it was the result of human error. Krystle Shore is an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Waterloo's department of sociology and legal studies. The privacy expert shared her thoughts with CBC K-W's Aastha Shetty.
CBC
a day ago
- CBC
Privacy expert reacts after summer camps were unknowingly livestreamed in Waterloo region
Kids and staff at summer camps in Waterloo region were livestreamed last week without permission. The cameras set up in local arenas are used to broadcast minor hockey league games, as well as other sporting events. But they were accidentally left on. The operator of the cameras, LiveBarn, said it was the result of human error. Krystle Shore is an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Waterloo's department of sociology and legal studies. The privacy expert shared her thoughts with CBC K-W's Aastha Shetty.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Streaming company blames 'human error' for minor hockey leagues, summer camps unknowingly leaving cameras on
The fallout continues after it was revealed that cameras at multiple facilities around Waterloo region in southern Ontario were livestreaming children's summer camps without permission. The operator of the cameras, LiveBarn, said it was the result of "human error" on the part of each venue or an affiliated minor hockey league in charge of managing the streaming schedules. "LiveBarn cameras operate on a motion-detect basis, meaning a rink operator must schedule or block off times when they are blacked out," the company said in a statement to CBC News on Friday, adding that on-ice video is typically archived for 30 days. The company said archived footage of the summer camps was not downloaded and shared. It said that when it found out about the issue, "the livestream was disabled immediately ... and there is currently no footage available." LiveBarn has cameras in over 1,900 venues across North America, streaming a number of sports, including hockey, basketball, swimming, soccer and lacrosse. People subscribe to be able to watch the livestreams. "The archived video-on-demand feature has been turned off for the recently installed cameras in Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo. These cameras will remain blacked out until the start of the hockey season," LiveBarn said in its statement. LiveBarn confirms unauthorized livestreaming A LiveBarn spokesperson confirmed livestreaming cameras filmed summer camp programs at: The Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex in Waterloo. Hespeler Arena and Dickson Arena in Cambridge. The Lions Arena and Grand River Arena in Kitchener. But the spokesperson said there were no issues with the livestreaming cameras at Cambridge Sports Park, another facility the City of Cambridge had identified early into its own investigation. Cambridge Sports Park is privately owned by Buckingham Sports Properties. The facility routinely hosts city-run summer camps. John Cook, vice-president of Buckingham Sports Properties, said the cameras were discovered to be livestreaming a summer camp on Monday. He said the cameras were turned off soon after that, at the city's request. LiveBarn said it has contracts with the Kitchener Minor Hockey Association and the Waterloo Minor Hockey Association for the livestream cameras installed at the facilities in Kitchener and Waterloo. The company said that in those cases, it was the responsibility of the minor leagues to properly manage the camera's streaming schedules. Privacy commissioner gathering info The Ontario Information and Privacy Commissioner was first notified of the livestreaming issue by the City of Waterloo on Wednesday. The commissioner's office received another notification on Thursday from the cities of Kitchener and Cambridge. "We are in the early stages of gathering information to determine next steps and cannot share additional details at this time. We can follow up with you when there are further developments," said an emailed statement from the privacy commissioner's office to CBC. The commissioner said it's not necessary for those impacted to file a complaint, but they can if they want to. LiveBarn services 'paused' in Cambridge The City of Cambridge said it is waiting for recommendations from the privacy commissioner's report, and notified the office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario on Thursday. "We have paused LiveBarn services at this time ... we are looking into determining the timeline of the livestream," the city said in a statement. The city confirmed the cameras were set to motion-detection mode when the summer camps were unknowingly livestreamed, just as LiveBarn described. "All streaming cameras in city facilities have been turned off for the time being," the city said. Cameras have also been unplugged at the affected facilities in Kitchener and Waterloo. 'I know I would be freaked out' Evan Light is an associate professor at the the University of Toronto's facultly of information, and an expert in privacy and surveillance technology. Light said he was shocked and concerned when he heard about the livestreaming incidents. "Anything that occurred in that arena in the past three months has been livestreamed to anybody who has a subscription to the service. There's the summer camp and then there's whatever else might happen. There could be teenagers making out in the bleachers. They for sure don't know and have not consented to be on the livestream." Krystle Shore, an assistant professor in the University of Waterloo's department of sociology, said she wasn't surprised to hear about what happened in Waterloo region. "It's not altogether unexpected because of the nature of surveillance and how difficult it can be to control where the footage goes and put meaningful safeguards in place," she said. "It's absolutely concerning because there's a real lack of consent, and trust and information in this case." Shore also wasn't surprised with LiveBarn's response about who's responsible to ensure livestreaming isn't done without permission. "This highlights how tricky it can be to work with private vendors in municipal or public settings," she said. "Both parties have responsibility here. Municipalities are responsible for what happens in their public facilities, even when third-party vendors and and cameras are involved. But LiveBarn as a vendor also has a duty to ensure its cameras aren't operating outside their intended purpose." Light said parents should ask for more transparency. "I'm a parent too, right? I know I would be freaked out," he said. "Demand answers of your local politicians, of the camp operators and the venue operators responsible for it ... this is an example of why ... the privacy of kids needs to be taken seriously."
CBC
4 days ago
- Sport
- CBC
Streaming company blames 'human error' for minor hockey leagues, summer camps unknowingly leaving cameras on
Social Sharing The fallout continues after it was revealed that cameras at multiple facilities around Waterloo region in southern Ontario were livestreaming children's summer camps without permission. The operator of the cameras, LiveBarn, said it was the result of "human error" on the part of each venue or an affiliated minor hockey league in charge of managing the streaming schedules. "LiveBarn cameras operate on a motion-detect basis, meaning a rink operator must schedule or block off times when they are blacked out," the company said in a statement to CBC News on Friday, adding that on-ice video is typically archived for 30 days. The company said archived footage of the summer camps was not downloaded and shared. It said that when it found out about the issue, "the livestream was disabled immediately ... and there is currently no footage available." LiveBarn has cameras in over 1,900 venues across North America, streaming a number of sports, including hockey, basketball, swimming, soccer and lacrosse. People subscribe to be able to watch the livestreams. "The archived video-on-demand feature has been turned off for the recently installed cameras in Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo. These cameras will remain blacked out until the start of the hockey season," LiveBarn said in its statement. LiveBarn confirms unauthorized livestreaming A LiveBarn spokesperson confirmed livestreaming cameras filmed summer camp programs at: The Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex in Waterloo. Hespeler Arena and Dickson Arena in Cambridge. The Lions Arena and Grand River Arena in Kitchener. But the spokesperson said there were no issues with the livestreaming cameras at Cambridge Sports Park, another facility the City of Cambridge had identified early into its own investigation. Cambridge Sports Park is privately owned by Buckingham Sports Properties. The facility routinely hosts city-run summer camps. John Cook, vice-president of Buckingham Sports Properties, said the cameras were discovered to be livestreaming a summer camp on Monday. He said the cameras were turned off soon after that, at the city's request. The company said that for the other facilities in Kitchener and Waterloo, it was the responsibility of the minor leagues to properly manage the camera's streaming schedules. Privacy commissioner gathering info The Ontario Information and Privacy Commissioner was first notified of the livestreaming issue by the City of Waterloo on Wednesday. The commissioner's office received another notification on Thursday from the cities of Kitchener and Cambridge. "We are in the early stages of gathering information to determine next steps and cannot share additional details at this time. We can follow up with you when there are further developments," said an emailed statement from the privacy commissioner's office to CBC. The commissioner said it's not necessary for those impacted to file a complaint, but they can if they want to. Cities respond to being blamed The City of Waterloo says according to its contract with LiveBarn, the livestreaming company is responsible for any information recorded through the camera. "While [the Waterloo Minor Hockey League] has access to the system to schedule the recordings for their games (and/or practices), LiveBarn is contractually responsible for the collection and use of any information recorded, displayed, streamed or televised," said the emailed statement. "The agreement states that LiveBarn has all responsibility for the cameras and associated equipment, including the operation and use, and signage." The city said it has signage at its facilities to inform visitors about the cameras. The signate "indicates that there are cameras installed and operated by LiveBarn for online broadcast and streaming of events for Alliance Hockey, and there is a contact for LiveBarn added to the sign for questions or concerns." The municipality said it is working with LiveBarn and the Waterloo Minor Hockey Association to "review processes and determine what changes are required." The City of Cambridge said it is waiting for recommendations from the privacy commissioner's report, and notified the office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario on Thursday. "We have paused LiveBarn services at this time ... we are looking into determining the timeline of the livestream," the city said in a statement. The city confirmed the cameras were set to motion-detection mode when the summer camps were unknowingly livestreamed, just as LiveBarn described. "All streaming cameras in city facilities have been turned off for the time being," the city said. Cameras have also been unplugged at the affected facilities in Kitchener and Waterloo. 'I know I would be freaked out' Evan Light is an associate professor at the the University of Toronto's facultly of information, and an expert in privacy and surveillance technology. Light said he was shocked and concerned when he heard about the livestreaming incidents. "Anything that occurred in that arena in the past three months has been livestreamed to anybody who has a subscription to the service. There's the summer camp and then there's whatever else might happen. There could be teenagers making out in the bleachers. They for sure don't know and have not consented to be on the livestream." Krystle Shore, an assistant professor in the University of Waterloo's department of sociology, said she wasn't surprised to hear about what happened in Waterloo region. "It's not altogether unexpected because of the nature of surveillance and how difficult it can be to control where the footage goes and put meaningful safeguards in place," she said. "It's absolutely concerning because there's a real lack of consent, and trust and information in this case." Shore also wasn't surprised with LiveBarn's response about who's responsible to ensure livestreaming isn't done without permission. "This highlights how tricky it can be to work with private vendors in municipal or public settings," she said. "Both parties have responsibility here. Municipalities are responsible for what happens in their public facilities, even when third-party vendors and and cameras are involved. But LiveBarn as a vendor also has a duty to ensure its cameras aren't operating outside their intended purpose." Light said parents should ask for more transparency. "I'm a parent too, right? I know I would be freaked out," he said. "Demand answers of your local politicians, of the camp operators and the venue operators responsible for it ... this is an example of why ... the privacy of kids needs to be taken seriously."
