Major UK chain stores Sports Direct and House of Fraser are facing criticism for their use of biometric facial recognition software. The technology is being used to monitor customers’ movements and behavior within the stores, but it has been described as an Orwellian surveillance tactic that facilitates draconian control.
Stores having CCTV and indoor security cameras is nothing new – having worked in retail, and been the victim of an armed robbery, I have experienced firsthand how useful it can be in prosecuting criminals. But the facial recognition software supplied by Facewatch is being used to scan the faces of customers as they enter the store, regardless of whether they have ever committed a crime. The software then compares the faces to a database of known shoplifters and other individuals who have previously been banned from the store.
