Supermarket giant insists new technology is to combat shoplifting but opponents claim it will ‘turn shoppers into suspects’
Sainsbury’s is to use controversial face recognition technology in its stores for the first time.
Britain’s second biggest supermarket chain claims the move is designed to combat shoplifting. Using CCTV, customers’ faces will be automatically scanned and used to help it identify and potentially ban people who are “violent, aggressive or steal in the store”.
However, the use of facial recognition has been heavily criticised by privacy groups. Campaign group Big Brother Watch branded it “Orwellian”, claiming it “turns shoppers into suspects with devastating consequences for people’s lives.”
Sainsbury’s is beginning an eight-week trial of the technology in two stores: its Sydenham superstore in London and its Bath Oldfield Sainsbury’s Local branch. If successful, it could be rolled out nationwide.
Bosses at Sainsbury’s, which has more than 1,400 shops across the country, said the plans are “not about monitoring colleagues” or customers.
It is working with facial recognition business Facewatch as part of the trial. Fellow retailers Home Bargains, Flannels and Sports Direct have reportedly used similar Facewatch technology in stores to identify shoplifters.
Sainsbury’s insisted that records will be instantly deleted if the software does not recognise the face of reported individuals. It added that the system issues an alert based on criminal behaviour submitted by the store or other retailers using Facewatch nearby.
Sainsbury’s said incidents of theft, abuse and threatening behaviour “continue to rise” despite working with the police and Government, adding that it is “affecting Sainsbury’s teams across the UK daily”.
Simon Roberts, Sainsbury’s chief executive, said: “We have listened to the deep concerns our colleagues and customers have and they’re right to expect us to act. The retail sector is at a crossroads, facing rising abuse, anti-social behaviour and violence. We must put safety first. We understand that facial recognition technology can raise valid questions about data and privacy.
“This trial and subsequent roll out is not about monitoring colleagues or our valued customers. It’s focused solely on identifying serious offenders who have committed acts of violence, aggression, or theft, helping our teams prevent further harm.”
Joanne Thomas, general secretary of shopworkers’ union Usdaw union, said: “We welcome Sainsbury’s ongoing programme of work to protect retail workers and customers from the continued threat of abuse and violence in stores.
“We look forward to seeing the results of the trial of facial recognition software and will continue to work closely with Sainsbury’s to support a responsible, evidence-led approach to tackling retail crime.”
But Madeleine Stone, Big Brother Watch’s senior advocacy officer, said: “Sainsbury’s decision to trial Orwellian facial recognition technology in its shops is deeply disproportionate and chilling.
“Facial recognition surveillance turns shoppers into suspects, with devastating consequences for people’s lives when it inevitably makes mistakes.
“Sainsbury’s and Facewatch are adding customers to secret watchlists with no due process, meaning people are being falsely accused, grossly mistreated and blacklisted from shops, despite being entirely innocent.
“We are regularly hearing from and supporting distressed people who have been caught up in a confusing net of privatised surveillance, despite being entirely innocent.
“Facial recognition is dangerously out of control in the UK. Sainsbury’s should abandon this trial and the government must urgently step in to prevent the unchecked spread of this invasive technology.”
Rival supermarket Asda began trialling live facial recognition at five stores in Greater Manchester in March this year to help combat retail crime. Frozen food chain Iceland is another that has used the technology.
