Kids at Waterloo region summer camps were unknowingly livestreamed, privacy investigation launched

Ontario's privacy commissioner is investigating after cameras broadcast livestream video of summer camps without permission.

The cameras, operated by LiveBarn, were set up to livestream sports games at recreational facilities across Waterloo region. According to their website, LiveBarn provides "Live and On Demand online broadcasts of amateur & youth sports from venue locations across the United States & Canada."

This week it was revealed that the livestreams remained active as children took part in summer camp activities within view of the camera.

As a result, several summer camps in Waterloo, Cambridge and Kitchener were filmed without permission.

The three municipalities are investigating after the livestreaming cameras filmed summer camp programs at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex in Waterloo, Hespeler Arena, Dickson Arena and the Cambridge Sports Park in Cambridge; and the Lions Arena and Grand River Arena in Kitchener.

The Ontario Information and Privacy Commissioner was first notified of the incident by the city of Waterloo on Wednesday. The commissioner's office received another notification on Thursday from the cities of Kitchener and Cambridge.

"We are in the early stages of gathering information to determine next steps and cannot share additional details at this time. We can follow up with you when there are further developments," said an emailed statement sent to CBC from the office of the privacy commissioner.

The commissioner says it's not necessary for those impacted to file a complaint, but they can if they want to.

'Result of a scheduling error': LiveBarn

In a statement sent to CBC News, LiveBarn says there were only two isolated incidents.

"These two incidents were isolated and unrelated to one another," the company said.

LiveBarn said it is aware of the incidents in Kitchener and Waterloo, but it did not mention Cambridge.

"Our preliminary investigation indicates this appears to be the result of a scheduling error and that there was no footage downloaded or shared. In addition, the livestream was disabled immediately upon being notified and there is currently no footage available."

LiveBarn says its streaming schedules are managed by each venue or its affiliated local sports organization.

"In this case, an incorrect schedule was created. With thousands of venues and diverse sports content, accidental human error can occur... We will be looking at implementing further safeguards to prevent future issues".

Cameras unplugged after incident

The cities say they are working with the operator of the cameras, LiveBarn, to figure out how the livestream started and how long it was on for. Staff have also reported the incident to the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario and turned off the livestreaming cameras.

"Upon notification of the livestream, the campers were moved out of the arena and staff unplugged the cameras to disable them," the press release from Waterloo says. "The LiveBarn cameras at all city of Waterloo arenas will remain unplugged and disabled until more information is available".

Cambridge says it takes the situation very seriously.

"The City of Cambridge has numerous procedures in place to protect the safety and privacy of our program participants and visitors to our facilities. We sincerely apologize for the oversight, regret that this issue has caused concern or confusion by those impacted and are committed to correcting the issue," the city's press release said.

Kitchener says has also been working with the Kitchener Minor Hockey Association, which administered the streaming platform, to get a better understanding of how long the cameras have been recording summer camps without permission.

Through that investigation, staff found the cameras have been active since about April 14. It's unclear how long the cameras in Cambridge or Waterloo had been active.

"City summer camps in Lions and Grand River arenas were recorded and streamed," the press release from Kitchener said.

"We take the privacy of residents seriously. A thorough review of third-party owned streaming services in City facilities is being conducted."

LiveBarn has cameras in more than 1,900 venues across North America and they stream a number of sports including hockey, basketball, swimming, soccer, lacrosse and more. People subscribe to be able to watch the livestreams.

Video available to LiveBarn subscribers

Access to the video was available only to LiveBarn subscribers. The city says the cameras at recreation centre are only intended to be used during Waterloo Minor Hockey Association games.

The city has contacted attendees of the summer camp. They have also notified summer camp attendees from the Albert McCormick Community Centre, but it is not yet clear if the LiveBarn cameras there were also livestreaming without permission.

"[We] recognize that camp parents may be concerned and/or frustrated with the limited information available at this time," the city's press release said.

"We are committed to a full investigation with all parties involved and to sharing further details with those impacted as more information becomes available."

Other cities, townships, campuses also potentially affected

In the press release posted online, it says Waterloo city staff have also learned "unscheduled livestreaming has also occurred at locations in other cities where LiveBarn cameras are installed."

CBC News has reached out to local municipalities with LiveBarn cameras for comment.

The Township of North Dumfries said in a media release that the LiveBarn cameras at the North Dumfries Community Complex have not been active since June 12.

The township also confirmed that there are currently no summer camps operating on the arena floor.

"While there are customers who access the indoor walking track during the summer months, no day camp programming is held in the area where the cameras are installed," the township said in a press release, adding it has followed up with the livestreaming company to make sure the cameras were off.

The Township of Woolwich says it has LiveBarn cameras installed at two township-owned facilities: The Woolwich Memorial Centre and the St Jacobs Arena. Summer camps run out of both locations but Woolwich says none of them were livestreamed without permission.

"Any livestreaming services will only be activated once all privacy, consent and operational protocols are thoroughly in place," the township said in an email to CBC News.

In an email to CBC, the city of Guelph said it recently signed an agreement with LiveBarn and has not yet installed the cameras at its recreation facilities. The city says it has reached out to LiveBarn "to understand what measures have been taken to ensure this will not happen again in the future."

The University of Guelph says the LiveBarn cameras at Gryphon Centre did not livestream on-campus summer camps.

"Gryphon Summer Hockey Skating and Skills Camp take place in August and will not be available for LiveBarn subscribers," the university said in an emailed statement, adding that its agreement with LiveBarn includes a clause where specific dates or time periods are blocked out from the livestream.