Surveillance cameras are everywhere these days. We are often being watched while shopping, in a parking lot, or even approaching someone's house.
But what if AI-enabled cameras were used to monitor Winnipeg intersections and automatically ticket people for violations?
A social media post went viral alluding to exactly this, but the post was not true and fooled many.
According to a post on the satirical Facebook page “City of Winnipeg Complaint Unit,” the city plans to install the new cameras at St. Mary's Road and Farmour Avenue.
The post said the cameras would be used to catch people not wearing seat belts or using cell phones.
“I actually sent it to my son and then I thought, 'this is weird,' and then I deleted it later,” Kim told CTV News Winnipeg on Friday.
Her skepticism was understandable: the site's creator told CTV News Winnipeg that the page was meant to provide laughs.
“It definitely adds a comedic element as some people know it's a joke while others believe it's true. It also shows the truth of how quickly and easily fake news can spread,” they wrote to CTV News Winnipeg.
While the post and idea are fake, cybersecurity and technology analyst Ritesh Kotak said the ability to identify whether someone has a cell phone or is wearing a seat belt seems logical and plausible.
“Technology is evolving and we are definitely on the verge of seeing such applications in public safety and traffic enforcement,” Kotak said.
But he noted that just because it can be done doesn't mean it should be done, adding that he believes public safety and individual privacy also need to be balanced.
A city spokesperson said in an emailed statement that some social media accounts appear to be associated with the city but are in fact parody accounts.
“While we understand the frustration caused to those who encounter this, social media platforms tolerate the existence of these accounts as long as they are registered as satire or parody accounts,” the spokesperson said.
“The page is classified as satire. Additionally, announcements and launches of new initiatives will be featured on the City's website, which is always a reliable source of information.”
