Key facts
- Coles and Woolworths have confirmed testing facial recognition technology in Australian supermarkets.
- The retailers are considering the technology to address retail crime and aggression towards staff.
- Consumer privacy advocates have raised concerns about the technology's potential for surveillance and inaccuracies.
- Bunnings recently received approval to use facial recognition technology on its customers.
- Coles stated its test was a one-off, controlled proof-of-concept that did not use customer or staff data.
Australian supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths have confirmed they are testing facial recognition technology, sparking alarm among consumer privacy advocates. The retailers are exploring the use of this technology to combat retail crime, including aggression towards staff, though a final decision on a wider rollout has not been made.
Privacy experts have raised concerns about the potential for mass surveillance and the accuracy of facial recognition systems, particularly regarding bias against people of colour. Dr. Jason Pallant, a marketing expert at RMIT University, described the situation as a "security versus privacy dilemma," emphasizing the need for transparency with consumers.
Coles stated that its involvement was a "small, one-off, controlled proof-of-concept test" that did not involve customer or team member data. Woolworths confirmed testing the technology at its New Zealand offices, citing ongoing incidents of aggression and conflict in stores. Both companies are exploring various initiatives to enhance safety.
The supermarket trials follow a decision by the Administrative Review Tribunal to allow Bunnings to use facial recognition technology on its customers, reversing a previous ruling by the privacy commissioner. However, the tribunal noted Bunnings had not adequately notified customers about the scanning.
Critics, such as Tom Sulston from Digital Rights Watch, argue that facial recognition is "wildly inaccurate" and disproportionate for essential services like supermarkets, where privacy should not be a prerequisite for accessing necessities. Dr. Luke Munn from the University of Queensland expressed concern that widespread adoption could normalize surveillance in everyday life, suggesting that addressing issues like theft might be better achieved through adequate staffing rather than advanced technology.