Sainsbury has started testing the controversial face recognition technology In one of your UK supermarket Bid to catch shopkeepers,
The second largest UK’s second largest supermarket has started an eight -week test in two shops as part of A. Crack on crime, Before rolling nationwide technology.
It comes between one Increase in retail crime Shows the number of official data published in July Shoplifting The crimes registered by the police in England and Wales climbed a record high last year.
According to the National Statistics (ONS) office, some 530,643 offenses were logged in 2024-25 in 2024–25, in 2023-24, the highest total police records started since 444,022 to 20 percent and current police records.
Retailer CEO Simon Roberts said, “The retail area is at an intersection, which is facing increasing misuse, anti -social behavior and violence. We should first protect.”
But the privacy campaigners are against the move and urged the supermarket to leave the test.
Supermarket Facial Recognition is working with Business Facewatch and is planning to start using technology at a shop in London this week and is in another bath.
Already shops, including sports direct and costcatter, use facial identity to identify shopkeepers. But it has been criticized by MPs and campaigners.
The privacy rights group Big Brother Watch labeled it as “deeply inconsistent and chilling”. Group senior advocacy officer Medelene Stone said: “Sensbury has made the decision to test the Orvelin Facial Recognition Technology in its shops deeply and chilling deeply.
“Censor should give up this test and the government should take immediate steps to prevent uncontrolled spread of this aggressive technology.”
Sensabri It is said that the test is not about “monitoring of colleagues or our valuable customers”, instead it is “focused on identifying only serious criminals, who have done violence, aggression or theft acts,” said Mr. Roberts.
The company said that if the software does not recognize the faces of the reported persons, the records will be removed immediately. It states that the system issued a warning based on criminal behavior presented by stores or other retailers, using facewatch nearby.
USDAW Union General Secretary Zone Thomas said: “We welcome the ongoing program of Sansbari work to protect retail workers and customers from the constant threat of misconduct and violence in shops.
“We will continue to work closely with Sensbury to support the facial recognition software testing results and to support a responsible, a responsible for dealing with retail crime.