Key facts
- Sainsbury's has paused its AI facial recognition system in one store following a false shoplifting accusation.
- Customer Matt Arnold was wrongly identified by the system and asked to leave the East Dulwich store.
- Sainsbury's stated the incident was due to human error in handling an alert, not a flaw in the AI technology.
- Facewatch, the technology provider, also stated its system was not at fault.
- The supermarket chain is conducting an investigation and providing additional training to staff.
Sainsbury's has temporarily halted its AI facial recognition system in one London store after a customer, Matt Arnold, was wrongly identified as a shoplifter and ejected.
Arnold, a comedy promoter, was purchasing items at the East Dulwich store when managers approached him, citing an earlier incident and asking him to leave. He reported feeling embarrassed and humiliated, noting that he stood his ground to walk himself out. He observed an alert on an overhead CCTV monitor with his face circled.