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Coles and Woolworths trial facial recognition technology
Coles and Woolworths test facial recognition technology to combat rising crime in stores amid growing safety concerns
Coles and Woolworths test facial recognition technology to combat rising crime in stores amid growing safety concerns
– Coles and Woolworths are trialling facial recognition to improve security and staff safety amid rising in-store crime.
– The technology faces controversy over privacy concerns but is being tested following a recent regulatory change.
Facial recognition trials
Coles and Woolworths have invested heavily in various security measures, including gates and body cameras for employees.
Controversy surrounds facial recognition technology, especially after a privacy ruling involving Wesfarmers’ Bunnings was overturned, allowing further tests.
Coles stated its initial tests did not involve personal data, while noting that no decisions regarding broader implementation have been made.
Woolworths has also trialled this technology in New Zealand and is considering a similar rollout in its Australian stores.
The company’s spokesperson highlighted the importance of staff and customer safety, revealing ongoing incidents of aggression in stores despite existing safety measures.
Facial recognition tools function by capturing biometrics and cross-referencing them with watch lists of known aggressive individuals. Critics argue this practice may normalise mass surveillance.
In the U.S., facial recognition has faced scrutiny for racial bias, leading to calls for caution in its implementation.
Australian retailers are contemplating limited utilization, targeting only repeat offenders and ensuring the deletion of non-matched images.
Following Bunnings’ success against regulatory restrictions, guidance from the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner now permits the technology where significant crime is a concern.
Bunnings has partnered with Vix Vizion for its implementation in New Zealand, with plans to extend the technology in over 300 Australian stores next year.
