PRIVACY concerns have prompted an investigation into the use of facial recognition technology by major retailers, including Bunnings.
CHOICE consumer data advocate Kate Bower said the use of facial recognition by Kmart, Bunnings and The Good Guys was both inappropriate and unnecessary.
“To make matters worse, we found 76 per cent of Australians aren’t aware that retailers are capturing their unique facial features in this way,” she said.
“Using facial recognition technology in this way is similar to Kmart, Bunnings or The Good Guys collecting your fingerprints or DNA every time you shop.”
Ms Bower said the small signs at store entrances and online privacy policies warning the technology was in use were inadequate.
A sign to the right of the entry to the Bunnings store in Swan Hill states: Video surveillance, which may include facial recognition, is utilised.
There are no signs indicating the technology is in use at the Campbell Street or Beveridge Street entrances to the Swan Hill Khub store.
The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) this week confirmed it was investigating a complaint from the consumer advocacy group.
The inquiry will look at the personal information handling practices of Bunnings Group Limited and Kmart Australia Limited – which are both owned by Wesfarmers – focusing on the companies’ use of facial recognition technology.
Chief operating officer Simon McDowell said Bunnings would cooperate with the OAIC investigation.
“As we’ve previously explained, this technology is used solely to help keep team and customers safe and prevent unlawful activity in our stores and we have strict controls around its use,” he said.
Mr McDowell declined to answer questions about whether the technology was in use at the Swan Hill store, who had access to it or how long the information was kept.
In a statement issued after the original CHOICE report, he said there had been an increase in the number of “challenging interactions our team have had to handle in our stores”.
“This technology is an important tool in helping us to prevent repeat abuse and threatening behaviour towards our team and customers,” he said.
“There are strict controls around the use of the technology which can only be accessed by a specially trained team. This technology is not used for marketing, consumer behaviour tracking, and images of children are never enrolled.”
Mr McDowell said customers were advised the technology was in use through signage at store entrances and in the company’s privacy policy, which is available on the website.
The Good Guys last month paused its trial of an upgraded security system using optional facial recognition technology “pending any clarification from the OAIC regarding the use of this technology”.
