Alarm raised over ‘privacy dilemma’ of facial recognition technology at Coles and Woolworths
Australian supermarket chains Coles and Woolworths are facing backlash for testing facial recognition technology in stores to combat retail crime. Privacy advocates argue the technology normalizes surveillance and raises significant ethical concerns regarding biometric data collection.
Why it matters
The story highlights the ongoing tension between retail security measures and consumer privacy rights in the digital age.
Woolworths and Coles have tested facial recognition technology that they are considering installing in stores. Woolworths and Coles have tested facial recognition technology that they are considering installing in stores. Supermarkets Alarm raised over ‘privacy dilemma’ of facial recognition technology at Coles and Woolworths Supermarkets say they are exploring ways to keep people safe, but experts claim the tech is ‘normalising surveillance’
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Prefer the Guardian on Google Consumer privacy advocates have responded with alarm after Coles and Woolworths confirmed they were testing facial recognition technology that they could use in their Australian supermarkets to record shoppers’ personal biometric data.
The supermarket giants on Monday confirmed they had tested the technology and said they were considering installing it in their Australian stores to crack down on retail crime including aggression towards staff.
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