Sainsbury’s is set to implement controversial face recognition technology in its stores for the first time to tackle shoplifting issues. Through CCTV cameras, the supermarket chain will scan customers’ faces automatically to identify and potentially restrict individuals displaying violent, aggressive, or stealing behavior within the store.
Despite privacy concerns raised by advocacy groups like Big Brother Watch, Sainsbury’s is commencing an eight-week trial of this technology at two locations: the Sydenham superstore in London and the Bath Oldfield Sainsbury’s Local branch, with potential nationwide expansion in the future.
Sainsbury’s clarified that the use of facial recognition is not intended for monitoring staff or customers but to target serious offenders engaging in harmful activities. The company is collaborating with Facewatch, a facial recognition business, for this trial, similar to other retailers like Home Bargains, Flannels, and Sports Direct.
The supermarket assured that data records will be promptly deleted if the software fails to recognize an individual’s face, emphasizing that alerts are triggered based on criminal behavior reported by the store or nearby retailers using Facewatch.
With incidents of theft, abuse, and threatening conduct on the rise, Sainsbury’s, operating over 1,400 stores nationwide, emphasized the importance of prioritizing safety. CEO Simon Roberts stated that the implementation of facial recognition technology aims to identify and prevent further harm caused by violent or criminal behavior, rather than monitoring regular customers.
Shopworkers’ union Usdaw supported Sainsbury’s initiative to enhance safety for retail workers and customers amid rising concerns of abuse and violence in stores. While Sainsbury’s received positive feedback from some stakeholders, critics like Big Brother Watch’s senior advocacy officer, Madeleine Stone, expressed strong opposition to the trial, labeling it as intrusive and potentially harmful to innocent individuals.
In a similar move, rival supermarket Asda initiated live facial recognition trials in Greater Manchester earlier this year, following in the footsteps of other retailers like Iceland using this technology to combat retail crime.