An earlier version of this article stated that Bunnings and Kmart refused to stop using facial recognition technology. It has been updated to reflect their decision to pause use following mounting pressure from CHOICE supporters and extensive community backlash.
In June, a CHOICE investigation revealed that Bunnings, Kmart and The Good Guys were using controversial and invasive facial recognition technology in some of their stores for the stated purposes of loss prevention, safety and security.
Australia’s privacy watchdog, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC), has launched an investigation into Kmart and Bunnings ‘personal information handling practices’ following our complaint. The Good Guys have already stopped using facial recognition while the investigation is underway, but Kmart and Bunnings had refused to back down until now.
Our recent poll of 16,000 CHOICE supporters showed that 80% of people want Kmart and Bunnings to stop using facial recognition. We’ve heard from many people who’d like to know which retailers are not using facial recognition technology and have no plans to introduce it, so that they can shop knowing their biometric information is not being captured by facial recognition cameras.
We contacted the 25 retailers in our initial investigation again to ask them to commit to not introducing facial recognition in their stores. While some left our calls unanswered, 17 retailers, including major supermarket chains, Woolworths, Coles and Aldi, agreed to the statement:
We are not using facial recognition in stores and we have no plans to introduce it.
This commitment will be widely welcomed by shoppers, who’ve made it clear in our supporter poll and the many emails and calls our team have received, that use of such invasive biometric technology is not welcome in retail stores. The full list of retailers who are not using facial recognition technology in stores is below.
Retailers who might use facial recognition in store
Kmart paused facial recognition in stores.
Bunnings paused facial recognition in stores.
The Good Guys paused facial recognition in stores.
Retailers pause facial recognition
The Good Guys have paused the use of facial recognition technology in two of their stores while the OAIC investigates, yet has not abandoned use of the technology fully.
Bunnings and Kmart have also paused the use of facial recognition technology until the OAIC has completed their investigation.
Retailers not using facial recognition
Woolworths is not using facial recognition in stores.
Coles is not using facial recognition in stores.
Aldi is not using facial recognition in stores.
Target is not using facial recognition in stores.
Big W is not using facial recognition in stores.
Myer is not using facial recognition in stores.
David Jones is not using facial recognition in stores.
Officeworks is not using facial recognition in stores.
Dan Murphys is not using facial recognition in stores.
BWS is not using facial recognition in stores.
First Choice Liquor is not using facial recognition in stores.
Liquorland is not using facial recognition in stores.
Vintage Cellars is not using facial recognition in stores.
Rebel is not using facial recognition in stores.
BCF is not using facial recognition in stores.
Supercheap Auto is not using facial recognition in stores.
Kate worked at CHOICE from 2016 to 2024 in numerous roles, as a fact-checker and verifier, a data analyst and a consumer data advocate.
You can connect with Kate on LinkedIn.
Kate worked at CHOICE from 2016 to 2024 in numerous roles, as a fact-checker and verifier, a data analyst and a consumer data advocate.
You can connect with Kate on LinkedIn.
For more than 60 years, CHOICE has been fighting the good fight for Australian consumers.
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