Privacy and Surf Cams

adambol1's picture
adambol1 started the topic in Tuesday, 21 Nov 2023 at 3:31pm

I heard an ABC interview today, maybe I should say half heard. The general gist was someone getting excited about for profit publication of camera images from public spaces, adversely affecting individuals privacy rights. The lady called out services like Swellnet. The interviewer lapped up the outraged interviewee. I was left perplexed, have I missed a new zoom function? Has Swellnet implemented a "find my mates" service whereby I can upload their pics, receive advice where they are, so I can surprise them. Or is Swellnet about to launch a variant on this feature "find my workforce" for bosses who find employee numbers fall as surf quality rises.
Mind you there was nothing said about in store cams picking out customers whose history of treating payment as optional is a profit leak. Equally there was nothing said about people in wetsuits look remarkably alike.
But seriously is Swellnet cam service facing moral challenges to add to its continuing infrastructure challenges. I rely on both the reports and cams to time my trips surfside.
Swellnet have you got a problem?

sypkan's picture
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sypkan Tuesday, 21 Nov 2023 at 5:58pm

I agree with angry woman

too many cameras

beaches, shops, and public places in general

I despise people filming me with stupid steaming selfie sticks too, it has become totally unavoidable

should not be allowed, people should respect other people's right to privacy. I don't wanna be some extra in some moron's instagram self indulgance bullshit

'just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they are not following you'

burleigh's picture
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burleigh Tuesday, 21 Nov 2023 at 10:31pm

I was at woolworths self checkout today and i had to get a staff member to swipe her card as something didn't weigh correctly.
She comes over, pulls up a video of a camera above me to make sure a scanned the fucking product. I had no idea those cameras were above. Especially with an instant replay!
Safe to say i won't be going back.

mikehunt207's picture
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mikehunt207 Tuesday, 21 Nov 2023 at 11:17pm

Agree on this topic
Way to many cameras everywhere , in the shops , houses you work on , cunts with drones , selfies.... Generation Narcissism
Surf cams are one thing but ones that cover the beachpark or carpark or stairs are just an invasion of privacy not to mention the winding back surf cam jizz yourself which just brings more crowd to said camera spot , egotistical fuckwits in many cases who wouldn't surf there otherwise .

burleigh's picture
burleigh's picture
burleigh Tuesday, 21 Nov 2023 at 11:27pm
mikehunt207 wrote:

Agree on this topic
Way to many cameras everywhere , in the shops , houses you work on , cunts with drones , selfies.... Generation Narcissism
Surf cams are one thing but ones that cover the beachpark or carpark or stairs are just an invasion of privacy not to mention the winding back surf cam jizz yourself which just brings more crowd to said camera spot , egotistical fuckwits in many cases who wouldn't surf there otherwise .

fuck i shake my head in disgust when people re-post a blury video of themselves surfing a wave from swellnet or the competition.

Absolute cockheads

Roadkill's picture
Roadkill's picture
Roadkill Wednesday, 22 Nov 2023 at 4:16pm
burleigh wrote:

I was at woolworths self checkout today and i had to get a staff member to swipe her card as something didn't weigh correctly.
She comes over, pulls up a video of a camera above me to make sure a scanned the fucking product. I had no idea those cameras were above. Especially with an instant replay!
Safe to say i won't be going back.

Hey great made up story, burls. Didn’t happen tho.

mattlock's picture
mattlock's picture
mattlock Wednesday, 22 Nov 2023 at 6:56pm

Bejeezuz Burls.
You're not going to be able to leave your house soon.

burleigh's picture
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burleigh Wednesday, 22 Nov 2023 at 8:30pm
Roadkill wrote:
burleigh wrote:

I was at woolworths self checkout today and i had to get a staff member to swipe her card as something didn't weigh correctly.
She comes over, pulls up a video of a camera above me to make sure a scanned the fucking product. I had no idea those cameras were above. Especially with an instant replay!
Safe to say i won't be going back.

Hey great made up story, burls. Didn’t happen tho.

Was at The Pines. Look above net time you self checkout.

seeds's picture
seeds's picture
seeds Wednesday, 22 Nov 2023 at 8:53pm

From a Guardian article in February

For the past year, Woolworths has trialled new self-checkouts with cameras installed overhead to observe customers scanning items. The company said artificial intelligence is used to detect when items are not scanned correctly, with footage of the scan recorded and played back to the customer instructing them to re-scan.
Woolworths said the purpose is to prevent accidental wrong scans, but it also works as a loss-prevention tool for the supermarket when, for example, a customer scans fresh produce as a cheaper item instead.
The footage cannot be viewed live but Woolworths said it is retained for training staff. The company said customers’ faces are blurred and pin pads are blacked out.

basesix's picture
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basesix Wednesday, 22 Nov 2023 at 8:58pm

I have a real problem with the checkout jobs lost for this style of 'service', as I'm sure many do.

Roadkill's picture
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Roadkill Wednesday, 22 Nov 2023 at 9:00pm
seeds wrote:

From a Guardian article in February

For the past year, Woolworths has trialled new self-checkouts with cameras installed overhead to observe customers scanning items. The company said artificial intelligence is used to detect when items are not scanned correctly, with footage of the scan recorded and played back to the customer instructing them to re-scan.
Woolworths said the purpose is to prevent accidental wrong scans, but it also works as a loss-prevention tool for the supermarket when, for example, a customer scans fresh produce as a cheaper item instead.
The footage cannot be viewed live but Woolworths said it is retained for training staff. The company said customers’ faces are blurred and pin pads are blacked out.

Well, there you go. I guess I was wrong.

Roadkill's picture
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Roadkill Wednesday, 22 Nov 2023 at 9:02pm

I don’t actually have a problem with the technology with overhead cams monitoring checkouts for theft.

Hiccups's picture
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Hiccups Wednesday, 22 Nov 2023 at 9:30pm
Roadkill wrote:

I don’t actually have a problem with the technology with overhead cams monitoring checkouts for theft.

At Woolies and Coles? Fuck that. They're fleecing us blind at every opportunity. I shoplift like a mad cunt, and encourage everyone else to do the same.

burleigh's picture
burleigh's picture
burleigh Wednesday, 22 Nov 2023 at 10:25pm
Roadkill wrote:
seeds wrote:

From a Guardian article in February

For the past year, Woolworths has trialled new self-checkouts with cameras installed overhead to observe customers scanning items. The company said artificial intelligence is used to detect when items are not scanned correctly, with footage of the scan recorded and played back to the customer instructing them to re-scan.
Woolworths said the purpose is to prevent accidental wrong scans, but it also works as a loss-prevention tool for the supermarket when, for example, a customer scans fresh produce as a cheaper item instead.
The footage cannot be viewed live but Woolworths said it is retained for training staff. The company said customers’ faces are blurred and pin pads are blacked out.

Well, there you go. I guess I was wrong.

Thanks for your apology.

mikehunt207's picture
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mikehunt207 Wednesday, 22 Nov 2023 at 11:56pm

Wow , there may be hope for Israel and Palestine after seeing Burls and Roadkill interacting so civilly above!
The big 2 supermarkets do deserve to be fleeced for making customers do all the work on the checkout , don't mind packing at all but scanning .....faark
Aldi have it down, cheap and check out service

andy-mac's picture
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andy-mac Thursday, 23 Nov 2023 at 6:36am
basesix wrote:

I have a real problem with the checkout jobs lost for this style of 'service', as I'm sure many do.

Yep I will only go to staffed checkout.

stunet's picture
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stunet Thursday, 23 Nov 2023 at 6:56am
andy-mac wrote:
basesix wrote:

I have a real problem with the checkout jobs lost for this style of 'service', as I'm sure many do.

Yep I will only go to staffed checkout.

Same, and then I mutter and curse under my breath when the checkout staff chit chat to the customer ahead of me.

Roadkill's picture
Roadkill's picture
Roadkill Thursday, 23 Nov 2023 at 7:36am

Supermarkets are screwing us. On a side note…Banks give supermarkets rebates the more electronic cash is used as it reduces bank staff required.
In the last 10 years my bank fees for electronic transactions has gone from $20 per month to $487 last month. I don’t pass this on to customers but probably will in the future.

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icandig Thursday, 23 Nov 2023 at 7:47am

Yeah that 'article' was about an "academic criminologist" who wrote a report and was trying gain some notoriety / support. Doesn't look like she got much traction. Her 'change' petition only has 240 odd signatures and the local rag ran a reader poll about the removal of the cam. 81% voted no. Media beat up. Winki looks a bit ugly today....might pass (thanks for the cam SN). Got a nice wave in front of a cam a few weeks ago @ 3.15 pm - I checked my watch. Went home, found the playback and screen captured it (thanks again SN)...straight to insta...now I have it forever and everyone can admire my skills....what a cockhead ay?

flollo's picture
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flollo Thursday, 23 Nov 2023 at 8:31am
Hiccups wrote:
Roadkill wrote:

I don’t actually have a problem with the technology with overhead cams monitoring checkouts for theft.

At Woolies and Coles? Fuck that. They're fleecing us blind at every opportunity. I shoplift like a mad cunt, and encourage everyone else to do the same.

I hardly shop there at all these days. Fruit and veg shops + butchers for groceries, other online retailers for everything else. It’s proven to be a great inflation killer for my family. Coles and Woolies are ripping people off, I only go there on rare occasions when I need something small and urgent.

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dbut Thursday, 23 Nov 2023 at 11:02am

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/sxydvuL329RW6Q7K/?mibextid=WC7FNe

Here is the 40 page report by the chair of the Australian privacy foundation on the appalling lack of respect by swellnet implementing camera at winkipop without a permit. Also attached time stamps on abc national.

BBrowny's picture
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BBrowny Thursday, 23 Nov 2023 at 11:13am
flollo wrote:
Hiccups wrote:
Roadkill wrote:

I don’t actually have a problem with the technology with overhead cams monitoring checkouts for theft.

At Woolies and Coles? Fuck that. They're fleecing us blind at every opportunity. I shoplift like a mad cunt, and encourage everyone else to do the same.

I hardly shop there at all these days. Fruit and veg shops + butchers for groceries, other online retailers for everything else. It’s proven to be a great inflation killer for my family. Coles and Woolies are ripping people off, I only go there on rare occasions when I need something small and urgent.

IGA FTW

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Supafreak Thursday, 23 Nov 2023 at 11:21am

I save approximately $100 a week shopping at Aldi and check out is staffed with people called from stocking up if line gets busy, they readily open another check out lane . I laugh at coles and Woolworths specials which are still dearer than Aldi regular prices. My only gripe is most seafood is Chinese processed, beats me how whiting caught in New Zealand then goes to china for packaging before landing in our stores . I rarely buy China products, some things unfortunately there is no choice .

basesix's picture
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basesix Thursday, 23 Nov 2023 at 11:32am

Yeh, getting a regime of shopping at a fish market, and freezing a bunch of stuff is the only real option other than self-caught. The next best option, esp for inlanders, is a local family-owned/run/fished/processed/freeze company (if you don't mind paying $100 a kilo!) https://www.fergusonaustralia.com/

freeride76's picture
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freeride76 Thursday, 23 Nov 2023 at 11:36am

Better off buying frozen NZ hoki at the supermarket.

perfectly edible and cheap. Very healthy.

Reasonably sustainable fishery.

basesix's picture
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basesix Thursday, 23 Nov 2023 at 11:42am

I used to get the deli birdseye 5 pack things, but like Supa says, a lot of those types of products are being processed in asia now, I can't help but find that really weird.

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Sprout Thursday, 23 Nov 2023 at 11:56am
dbut wrote:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/sxydvuL329RW6Q7K/?mibextid=WC7FNe

Here is the 40 page report by the chair of the Australian privacy foundation on the appalling lack of respect by swellnet implementing camera at winkipop without a permit. Also attached time stamps on abc national.

Interesting ABC interviews. I wonder why they've focused on the SN Winki cam in particular and not the rest of them in that area? Didn't mention the Surfline ones lol. I didn't read the Deakin Uni report. What authority do GORCAPA have to direct a camera be removed? Assume not much as it's still live?

** A: In the report - There have been instances where Swellnet has been ordered to remove SurfCams that were installed without appropriate permits and approvals. However, these cameras were installed on public land rather than on private residences. For example, in June 2022 GORCAPA directed Swellnet to turn off and remove a camera at Fisherman’s Beach at Torquay as it was fixed on the Torquay Marine Rescue Service building. The camera was installed without GORCAPA’s knowledge and consent, and in contravention of the Marine and Coastal Act 2018 (Vic), and GORCAPA was able to formally request the camera be turned off.47 However, despite this request, the Fisherman’s Beach SurfCam remains active on the Swellnet website.

The fact that the SurfCam is fixed to a private residence is pertinent as it enables Swellnet to circumvent prohibitions for filming for commercial purposes at the BBSRR without a permit. The camera is located on private land and broadcasts footage of public land, and this is the source of the major loophole in existing regulatory governance. The Surf Coast Shire has no current jurisdiction or power to prevent the filming and broadcast of live footage of public land from private land for private purposes or commercial gain. The Surf Coast Shire’s Acting General Manager of Place making and Environment Matt Taylor stated publicly: ‘Because the surf cam at Winki Pop is on private freehold land zoned low density residential, planning and building permits were not required for its installation and use.’45 Residential developments are subject to the Planning Scheme and local council approval. However, the installation of CCTV or other broadcast cameras on private property does not explicitly fall within existing planning regulations for single residential dwellings.

freeride76's picture
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freeride76 Thursday, 23 Nov 2023 at 11:53am

Sealord.
Hoki pieces, processed in NZ.

Aldi seafood is shitt.

You can get wildcaught frozen green banana prawns from the NPF (northern prawn fishery) for $15-18/kg at Woolies.

Thats about best deal going for prawns.

Grab a few kilos. Cook in salt water.

Chill in a seawater ice slurry and there is your Xmas prawns sorted for less than half the price of Kings ($38-45/kg) at seafood shops.

basesix's picture
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basesix Thursday, 23 Nov 2023 at 11:56am

nice one!

freeride76's picture
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freeride76 Thursday, 23 Nov 2023 at 11:57am

Been doing it every year for donkeys.

Get two buckets of seawater. Cook in seawater (as soon as prawns turn red and float they are done).

Two bags of ice in esky with seawater then chill cooked prawns in slurry.

Put in fridge.

Will hold from Xmas Eve almost until NYE.

I'll pretty much subsist on prawn sangas in that time.

stunet's picture
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stunet Thursday, 23 Nov 2023 at 12:02pm

Last weekend sorted three kilos for Xmas with the local seafood shop.

$20/kilo

Or, three lobsters for three kilos of prawns.

Fair deal.

basesix's picture
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basesix Thursday, 23 Nov 2023 at 12:10pm

all I know is this has made me hungry.
(good, too, to freeze a couple of turkey rolls after xmas, once they drop to half price.. ready for winter eatin)

garyg1412's picture
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garyg1412 Thursday, 23 Nov 2023 at 3:25pm

Heads up to all you Coles & Woolies self service shoppers. If you read the small print it says "if it doesn't scan first swipe you get it free". Works a treat for me.

Roadkill's picture
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Roadkill Thursday, 23 Nov 2023 at 4:07pm
garyg1412 wrote:

Heads up to all you Coles & Woolies self service shoppers. If you read the small print it says "if it doesn't scan first swipe you get it free". Works a treat for me.

I know if they overcharge you on a scan you get the money refunded and get the product for free.