LiveBarn says ‘human error’ caused its cameras to livestream Ontario kids’ summer camps. Privacy commissioner now investigating the breach.
Unauthorized Streaming Sparks Public Concern
A series of children’s summer camps in southern Ontario were unknowingly livestreamed to subscribers through cameras operated by the sports streaming service LiveBarn, raising serious privacy concerns. The incidents occurred in recreational facilities across Waterloo, Cambridge, and Kitchener, where motion-activated cameras remained on during off-season programming.
Company Cites Scheduling Oversight
LiveBarn, which streams sports at over 1,900 venues across North America, attributed the incident to “human error” by local facility staff or affiliated minor hockey leagues, who failed to deactivate the cameras. “The livestream was disabled immediately … and there is currently no footage available,” the company said Friday in a statement. The platform clarified that no archived footage from the camps was downloaded or distributed.
Facilities Involved and Immediate Response
The livestreaming occurred at multiple public arenas, including the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex, Hespeler Arena, Dickson Arena, Lions Arena, and Grand River Arena. A camera at Cambridge Sports Park, a privately owned site, also streamed part of a city-run camp before being shut down upon discovery. City officials in all three municipalities have since disabled all LiveBarn cameras in their facilities.
Privacy Commissioner Launches Inquiry
The Ontario Information and Privacy Commissioner confirmed it was notified by the cities of Waterloo, Kitchener, and Cambridge between Wednesday and Thursday. An investigation is underway, though no formal complaints are required to initiate further action. The commission said it is too early to comment on next steps.
Dispute Over Responsibility
LiveBarn claims local operators were responsible for managing streaming schedules, but municipalities are pushing back. The City of Waterloo stated that under its contract, LiveBarn retains full responsibility for any data recorded or streamed. The city added that signage about the cameras was visible in the facilities and included contact information for LiveBarn.
Municipalities Pause Services Pending Review
Cambridge, Kitchener, and Waterloo have all suspended LiveBarn services temporarily. The cities are reviewing policies and awaiting the privacy commissioner’s recommendations. LiveBarn has also disabled its video-on-demand feature at the impacted locations and stated cameras will remain off until hockey season resumes.
Experts Warn of Broader Privacy Risks
Privacy experts say the breach reflects larger systemic issues. “It’s absolutely concerning because there’s a real lack of consent, and trust and information in this case,” said Dr. Krystle Shore, a sociology professor at the University of Waterloo. University of Toronto professor Evan Light emphasized the need for transparency: “This is an example of why the privacy of kids needs to be taken seriously.”
LiveBarn has not confirmed whether additional locations were affected but says it is working with involved parties to prevent future occurrences.
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