City of Toronto
Toronto Public Walking Tour Informs and Engages Community on Sensor Technology and Privacy
About the Art
The streets of Toronto’s downtown west-end spiral across like the lines of a breadboard or circuit board. Hints of copper shine through to delineate park areas. You can see the subtle graft of the tour points of the walk stretching from John to Pearl streets. The style was imagined as a that of a ‘zine and a nod to the history of the neighbourhood; cartographic in nature but with a punk sensibility as we interpret our urban terrain.
Original artwork by Aedán Crooke of Surface Impression. No AI was used in the creation of these original artworks.
The City of Toronto’s Public Walking Tour educates the community on sensor technology and privacy implications through an interactive walk in the Entertainment District.
People are invited to explore the use of sensors by the City of Toronto, such as those for road safety, building security and asset management. These sensors can collect, store and analyze data, which can also include personal information. City staff guide participants through nine stops where sensors have been installed and embedded. On the walk, they encounter sensors deployed in the context of traffic management, crosswalks, air quality, Wi-Fi, public transportation, and red-light cameras. A range of issues are discussed, such as data collection, privacy, notice and consent, the Internet of Things, and digital transformation.
This innovative and interactive initiative promotes openness and transparency, allowing direct interaction with city staff, fostering conversations about where sensors are used, the types of data being collected, and the implications for privacy. Participants can ask questions and express any concerns, offering feedback on the city’s approach to digital technology and data governance.
Now in its second year, the tour has seen growing interest and popularity, with 70 participants this year, up from 60 last year. The program is actively promoted through social media, the city’s website, and a newsletter.
The City of Toronto’s Public Walking Tour aims to build trust in municipal digital services, inform citizens about the technology used in public spaces, and encourage public discourse on the use of technology in municipal service delivery. This free and informative experience promotes transparency, accountability, and community engagement in the digital age.
All accompanying materials available in English.
Project credit to City of Toronto