Province pulls electronic ID scanners from cannabis stores

Cannabis stores acrossthe province will no longer use electronic ID scanners.

The decisioncomes after some customers questioned whatinformation was being collected, and how it was beingused.

The concerns prompted an ongoinginvestigation from P.E.I.'sinformation and privacy commissioner.

In an email to CBCFriday, Cannabis Management Corporation said the scanners were meantto safeguard against underage purchases and fake IDs.

If there's technicalities that we're not aware of that these systems are utilizing, then we shouldn't be utilizing the system.And that's exactly why we're pulling the plug on it. Heath MacDonald

"They were not meant to retain or track any data, but an IT specialist examined the scanners today and found some data was being kept for 24 hours inside the device," itsaid.

"This data was immediately wiped and settings were changed so as not to keep data in the future."

Finance Minister HeathMacDonaldsaid the scanners will be gone for good, unless there's some other need or reason to bring them back.

"If there's technicalities that we're not aware of that these systems are utilizing, then we shouldn't be utilizing the system.And that's exactly why we're pulling the plug on it," he said.

MacDonald said the stores will insteadabide by the policy used in provincial liquor stores. They don't use scanners, but ask for ID from any customers who appearto beunder the age of 30.

"We'll step up and have an individual actually checking IDs, and if there seems to be a person that looks underage, then check their ID.If there seems to be a person that's over 60 for example, perhaps we don't need to check IDs," he said.

MacDonaldsaid there were some unanswered technical questions around the scanners.

He said theprivacy commissioner did not play a role in the decision.

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With files from Steve Bruce