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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Josh Taylor

Privacy watchdog to investigate Bunnings and Kmart over use of facial recognition technology

A Bunnings store in Sydney, Australia
Retailers Bunnings and Kmart will be investigated by Australia’s privacy watchdog over their use of facial recognition technology in some stores. Photograph: Stephen Coates/Reuters

Australia’s privacy watchdog has launched an investigation into retail giants Bunnings and Kmart over their use of facial recognition technology in some stores.

Consumer group Choice last month revealed Bunnings and Kmart were using the technology – which captures images of people’s faces from video cameras as a unique faceprint that is then stored and can be compared with other faceprints – in what the companies say is a move to protect customers and staff and reduce theft in select stores.

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