Supermarket giants trial facial recognition technology
Updated . First published at
Coles and Woolworths are exploring the use of facial recognition technology to use in its stores in a bid to crack down on retail crime.
The potential use of the technology is the latest step the supermarket giants are taking to protect its staff and prevent theft in its stores.
The two big supermarket chains are testing facial recognition to reduce retail crime. Getty
Coles told nine.com.au it had not conducted an outright trial of the technology, instead saying it had completed a “small, one-off, controlled proof-of-concept test of the technology.”
“[It] did not use customer or team member information or data,” a Coles spokesperson said.
“No decision has been made about the deployment of facial recognition technology.
“We will always explore technology that will help us keep our team and customers safe.”
The technology has already been trialled at Woolworths locations in New Zealand. Nine
Nine.com.au understands the test used volunteers, and did not use the data of any customers or staff.
Despite previous reports, Woolworths has denied conducting a trial of the same technology across its New Zealand stores.
It is understood the company conducted a small trial of facial recognition technology in New Zealand, but not at a store with customers or staff.
Nine.com.au understands the company has no formal plans to roll out the technology in Australia.
Facial recognition technology has proved controversial, with its use in Australian stores only being approved earlier this year after Westfarmers, owner of hardware chain Bunnings, won a legal battle that reversed an initial ruling that blocked its rollout.
The company had used the technology between 2018 and 2021, and insisted the images of a “vast majority of people [were] processed and deleted in 0.00417 seconds”.
Coles has sought a partnership with Crime Stoppers Victoria to help protect its workers from violence. Nine
Bunnings managing director Mike Schneider insisted the technology would only be used to protect its staff and customers.
“Our intent in trialling this technology was to help protect people from violence, abuse, serious criminal conduct and organised retail crime,” Schneider said in February, saying the technology was a “practical, common-sense step to keep people safe.”
The technology is also being trialled by WA Police in an attempt to catch criminals in public spaces.
Coles and Woolworths have made several moves to protect itself from theft and its staff from violence in recent months.
This includes new security gates at entrances to Woolworths stores designed to stop people shoplifting, while Coles is trialling locked cabinets to keep certain items safe.
Coles has also launched a partnership with Crime Stoppers Victoria in a bid to help protect its workers from assault, as well as educating customers on scams, retail crime, and how to de-escalate harmful situations.
New Victorian Premier Ben Carroll announcing 150 extra Protective Service Officers would be hired to patrol shopping centres around the state.
Recent stats show retail theft in Victoria has climbed by 6.1 per cent in the last year, with 41,000 incidents recorded
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