Cameras in Public Washrooms: A Step Too Far in the Name of Security

We’re all used to the presence of cameras in nearly every corner of our public lives stores, streets, lobbies, and even elevators. But recently, the discovery of surveillance cameras inside the washrooms at Montreal’s Place Dupuis Complex has raised a serious and necessary question: when does security cross the line into privacy invasion?

For shopper Madighan Antsui, the moment came as she stood in front of the sinks, only to look up and find herself under the watchful eye of a security camera. “It’s right besides, in front of a stall,” she said, clearly unsettled. Her partner reported seeing a similar setup in the men’s washroom. When they brought it to the attention of a mall security guard, they were told, somewhat nonchalantly, that he’s “allowed to watch.”

Let that sink in for a moment.

Mall management has since clarified that the cameras are not directed at the stalls, only the sink area a claim backed up by signage and, reportedly, provincial inspections. But whether the installation is technically legal isn’t the only issue here. The real concern is the erosion of a fundamental expectation of privacy in a place that, by its very nature, demands it.

Yes, theft and vandalism are legitimate concerns. But do they justify turning one of the last remaining private spaces into a monitored zone? Even with regulations in place rules that dictate recordings be kept confidential, used only for specific purposes, and promptly destroyed the mere presence of cameras in such a space sends a troubling message: that suspicion outweighs trust, and safety trumps dignity.

Lawyer Julius Grey rightly points out that the legality of such cameras is nuanced. But legality isn’t always the same as ethics. Just because something is allowed doesn’t mean it’s right.

Public spaces are increasingly shrivelled in ways that many of us never consented to, and often, we aren’t even made aware. The addition of surveillance to washrooms even just at the sink’s chips away at a deeply personal boundary. And while some might argue that if you’re not doing anything wrong, you have nothing to hide, that argument misses the point entirely. Privacy isn’t about secrecy; it’s about agency. It’s about the ability to exist without being watched especially in places meant for personal relief and hygiene.

In an age where privacy is becoming a luxury, we need to ask ourselves: where do we draw the line? If surveillance in washrooms becomes normalized, what’s next?

Security matters, but so does human dignity. The balance between the two must be handled with extreme caution. In this case, it feels like the scales have tipped too far.