Crime 'entitled' Bunnings to snag shoppers' facial data

Bunnings used CCTV to scan the faces of customers entering 63 stores over three years. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)

Bunnings is within its rights to use facial recognition software on customers to curb theft and violence against staff, with a tribunal laying the foundation for a broader rollout.

The Administrative Review Tribunal has overturned a ruling from the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner that the hardware giant breached privacy laws by trialling facial recognition in stores.