Privacy investigation into arena livestreams continues

The City of Waterloo continues to work with Ontario’s privacy commissioner after staff were notified that cameras in a local hockey arena were broadcasting for weeks.

City staff were first told two weeks ago about an “unscheduled livestream” covering the hockey arena at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex.

While the city is awaiting further confirmation, it says it’s “highly likely” the livestream was active and available to all LiveBarn subscribers from May 1 to July 23.

The timeframe coincides with summer camps that were running out of the rec complex. According to LiveBarn, none of the streaming was downloaded or shared, and it had minimal views.

LiveBarn is a sports streaming service and the cameras are used to broadcast events like minor hockey games.

“In reviewing the unscheduled livestream duration, there may be additional rental groups using the arena at WMRC who were impacted,” reads a release from the City of Waterloo. “All relevant facility booking holders and campers’ guardians have been notified.”

It wasn’t just Waterloo cameras that were impacted, as the City of Kitchener said it also learned two weeks ago that LiveBarn cameras at Lions Arena and Grand River Arena had been active since mid-April.

LiveBarn cameras at Kitchener and Waterloo facilities remain offline as the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario continues to investigate.