Coles and Woolworths test facial recognition technology
Australia's two dominant supermarket chains, Coles and Woolworths, are testing facial recognition technology in their stores. Details about the scope, purpose, or stage of the trials are limited, but the testing has drawn enough attention to be reported by national broadcaster ABC News.
Why this matters: Every time you walk into a Coles or Woolworths, you may be handing over your face without signing anything or being asked. These are not niche retailers. Together they cover most of Australian grocery shopping. Facial recognition in that context means your movements, your habits, and your identity get logged at scale. The stated reason is usually loss prevention. The real issue is what gets built with that data, who holds it, how long it lasts, and whether you can ever get it deleted.
Who should care: Privacy officers · Cybersecurity · General readers · Policy
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