27.2 C
Accra
Saturday, February 15, 2025
WorldConvenience store spy cameras face legal challenge

Date:

Convenience store spy cameras face legal challenge

The Southern Co-Op chain is facing a legal challenge to its use of facial recognition technology to cut crime.

The privacy campaign group says the system at the convenience stores breaches data protection and people may end up on a watch-list without knowing.

But Southern says it is only using the Facewatch system in shops with a history of crime, to protect its staff.

The co-operative runs 200 convenience stores across southern England, of which 35 have the system installed.

A single camera captures the faces of people who enter the shops, and the images are analysed and converted into biometric data.

This is then compared with a database of people the co-operative says have stolen from its shops, or been violent.

A spokeswoman said the watch-list was not a list of people with criminal convictions, but of people for which the business had evidence of criminal or anti-social behaviour.

Any shopper previously banned would be asked to leave, and others would be approached by staff with an offer of “how can I help?” to make it clear their presence had been detected.

‘Orwellian’

 

Big Brother Watch has challenged the legality of the system in a submission to the ICO, shared with the BBC.

The group says the biometric scans are “Orwellian in the extreme”.

“The supermarket is adding customers to secret watch-lists with no due process, meaning shoppers can be spied on, blacklisted across multiple stores and denied food shopping despite being entirely innocent,” said Big Brother Watch’s director Silkie Carlo.

“This is a deeply unethical and a frankly chilling way for any business to behave.”

The complaint to the ICO claims the system breaches data protection laws because the information is processed in ways which are not proportionate to the need to prevent crime.

Big Brother Watch argues that facial recognition is “privacy-intrusive” in general, and “highly privacy-intrusive” for people whose details are on the watch-list.

This was not justified because the system was not necessary for preventing crime, it said.

“It does not bring serious criminals to justice… it does not protect the public from harm in any meaningful way,” the complaint says.

“At best, it displaces crime, empowering individual businesses to keep ‘undesirables’ out of their stores and move them elsewhere.”

The data produced from the facial recognition cameras is deleted after being compared with the watch-list, but the original picture is kept for 72 hours in case an individual subsequently breaks the law or is violent.

Crime prevention

 

Southern Co-Op said it would welcome any “constructive feedback” from the Information Commissioner.

“We take our responsibilities around the use of facial recognition extremely seriously and work hard to balance our customers’ rights with the need to protect our colleagues and customers from unacceptable violence and abuse,” it said.

“The safety of our colleagues and customers is paramount and this technology has made a significant difference to this, in the limited number of high-risk locations where it is being used.

“Signage is on display in the relevant stores. As long as it continues to prevent violent attacks, then we believe its use is justified.”

Southern Co-Op StoreImage source, Southern Co-Op

Image caption, Southern Co-Op has installed cameras at 35 shops

The cameras are in use at Southern Co-Op shops in towns and cities including Portsmouth, Southampton, Bristol, Bournemouth, Hove, Croydon and Chichester.

Facewatch also provides the biometric cameras to Costcutter, Sports Direct, Spar, Nisa and Frasers Group.

The security system company said: “Facial recognition may be used where it is necessary because other methods to prevent crime, such as policing, CCTV and manned guarding, have tried and failed.

“Any privacy intrusion is minimal and proportionate. Facewatch is proven to be effective at crime prevention, and our clients experience a significant reduction in crime.”

 

Source: BBC

[forminator_poll id="710479"]

Latest stories

Check out Cristiano Ronaldo’s val’s day message to his girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez

Cristiano Ronaldo recently shared a throwback photo of himself...

Ghana’s Mawuko Kuadzi wins Best Casting Award at prestigious Artios Ceremony

Mawuko Kuadzi, the celebrated Ghanaian casting director and CEO...

Termination of post-Dec 7 appointments unjust and illegal – NPP to NDC

The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has strongly criticized...

Ghana to prioritize self-sufficiency in food production – Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has revealed Ghana’s plan to...

Dropping cases without Mahama’s approval is a dangerous precedent – Dame to A-G

Former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah...

Otumfuo at the forefront of traditional measure to check Bawku conflict – Defence Minister

Defence Minister, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, has acknowledged the...

Related stories

“I still consider it my biggest failure” – Bill Gates on life after divorce

Bill Gates is speaking candidly about his divorce from Melinda French...

Kanye West reclaims title as wealthiest rapper, surpassing JAY-Z

Kanye West has reportedly reclaimed the title of the...

Meta offers TikTokers $5,000 to join Facebook, Instagram

Social media giant Meta has offered to pay up...

About 1,600 Capitol riot defendants pardoned by Trump

President Donald Trump has issued pardons or commuted sentences...

LIVESTREAMING: Swearing-in ceremony for Donald Trump

Today marks the beginning of Donald Trump's second term...

Inauguration Day schedule for Trump’s swearing-in ceremony today

Donald Trump will take the oath of office today...

WhatsApp to stop working on these devices in 2025

WhatsApp will soon cease supporting 18 Android models and...