Sainsbury’s is set to implement contentious facial recognition technology in its stores for the first time. The UK’s second-largest supermarket chain aims to tackle shoplifting by utilizing CCTV to automatically scan customers’ faces, aiding in the identification and potential barring of individuals exhibiting violent, aggressive, or theft-related behavior.
Despite facing criticism from privacy advocates, Sainsbury’s has initiated an eight-week trial of the technology at two of its stores: the Sydenham superstore in London and the Bath Oldfield Sainsbury’s Local branch, with potential nationwide expansion if successful. The company clarified that the purpose is not to monitor employees or customers but to focus on detecting serious offenders.
Partnering with facial recognition firm Facewatch for the trial, Sainsbury’s assured that records of unrecognized faces are promptly deleted. The system alerts based on reported criminal activities, providing a proactive approach to addressing theft, abuse, and threatening conduct within its establishments.
Simon Roberts, the CEO of Sainsbury’s, emphasized the necessity of prioritizing safety amidst increasing incidents of misconduct within retail environments. The implementation of facial recognition technology is aimed at enhancing security measures by targeting individuals involved in harmful behaviors.
While the shopworkers’ union Usdaw expressed support for Sainsbury’s efforts to safeguard retail workers and customers, Big Brother Watch condemned the deployment of facial recognition as an intrusive and disproportionate measure. The advocacy group raised concerns about potential false accusations and the lack of due process in adding individuals to watchlists.
In a similar vein, rival supermarket Asda also began trialing live facial recognition in Greater Manchester to combat retail crime, joining other retailers like Iceland in utilizing this technology. The ongoing debate surrounding the use of facial recognition continues to spark discussions on privacy and surveillance practices in retail settings.