Facewatch: Retailers Use Controversial Facial Recognition Technology to Combat Shoplifting
Facewatch is a cloud-based facial recognition system currently used by retailers including Sainsbury's, Budgens, and Sports Direct. It scans customers as they enter stores and compares their faces against a database of known offenders, alerting staff if there is a match.
Retailers cite a rise in shoplifting incidents and limited police response as key reasons for adopting Facewatch as a security measure. Official figures indicate that shoplifting increased by 13% in the year to June, reaching almost 530,000 incidents, though about 80% of these do not result in charges. For example, Ruxley Manor Garden Centre reports losses due to shoplifting amounting to roughly 1.5% of turnover and notes concerns for staff safety amid increasingly brazen and organised thefts.
However, the technology has faced criticism from civil liberties groups who warn it erodes privacy. Silkie Carlo from Big Brother Watch describes it as a dangerous form of privatised policing and questions how biometric data is used.
There has also been at least one documented misidentification incident where Rennea Nelson was wrongly flagged as a shoplifter in a B&M store. She was threatened with police action and faced potential immigration consequences before the retailer apologized and attributed the mistake to a rare human error.
Nick Fisher, CEO of Facewatch, states that data is only retained for known repeat offenders and that the system operates in compliance with UK GDPR. He argues that when managed responsibly, the technology's use can be proportionate and beneficial.
The debate remains divided with proponents emphasizing staff safety and loss prevention benefits, while critics highlight the privacy risks and potential for misidentification inherent in using such biometric systems.
