Cameras to collect biometric data in “Happy”

Hello! Today I came across a rather interesting article on the consumer rights wiki. It shows how the famous chain of restaurants “Happy” uses software with artificial intelligence, which collects biometric data (face, gender, race, age, etc.) without the express consent of the visitors through the video surveillance cameras. The concern for me, apart from the collection of these biometrics without the users knowledge, is the artificial intelligence that is embedded. Although it says it’s local, there’s really no way to be sure where this data goes and what else it might be used for. To top it all off, the company that developed the software of these cameras (IP Biometrix) most proudly poses with this intrusion into people’s personal space. After a little more research, I came up with several European laws that are actually being broken with the implementation of these cameras, one of which is the EU GDPR. Users are not given the opportunity to be informed that they are being photographed and that their biometric data is being collected, let alone consent to it – https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/art_9/oj . Also, if someone can explain to what extent this practice is in line with the Bulgarian legislation on the protection of personal data, I would be grateful.

Until now, Happy has not officially announced that they use such cameras, and the only information about their existence is on the website of the developer of the software for them. I’m sharing this here because I find this practice highly unacceptable and I want to publicize this issue because if we ignore this invasion of our personal space, we open the door for big companies to monitor us 24/7.

Link to the article: https://consumerrights.wiki/w/Happy_Bar_%26_Grill_Biometric_Surveillance

https://consumerrights.wiki/w/User:Juuns/Биометрично_наблюдение_в_Happy_Bar_%26_Grill_-_bg_translation_of_an_existing_article/ (Bulgarian version)