BarWatch

BarWatch is a Canadian security program that monitors patrons of bars and nightclubs. Subscribers to the program photograph and scan the government issued ID cards of all customers. [http://www.barwatch.ca] The intent is to prevent people known to police for criminal or potentially violent behavior from entering nightclubs. However there has been concern that the program may be used to provide police and other agencies such as insurance companies with the information collected. [http://www.hackcanada.com/canadian/freedom/barwatch/barwatch.html] The BC Civil Liberties Association filed a complaint against a BarWatch participate with the Office of the Privacy and Information Commissioner. They claim BarWatch violates citizens privacy rights by failing to comply Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act [http://www.straight.com/article-102067/big-brother-bar-hops] .

Program Participants

Currently there are BarWatch participants in Edmonton and Vancouver.

External links

* [http://www.barwatch.ca Barwatch] , The official website
* [http://www.hackcanada.com/canadian/freedom/barwatch/barlink.html hackcanada] , Strongly opposed to the BarWatch and includes a partial list of participants
* [http://www.straight.com/article-102067/big-brother-bar-hops Georgia Straight] , A 2007 article from a popular Vancouver free newspaper
* [http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2008/02/22/bc-bar-watch-decals.html CBC] A 2008 article from the CBC