Bunnings, Australia’s largest hardware chain, has been accused of violating the privacy of hundreds of thousands of customers by using facial recognition technology in over 60 stores. According to the OAIC, Australia’s privacy regulator, the system was overly intrusive and operated without obtaining proper customer consent.
The OAIC found that Bunnings failed to meet transparency requirements under Australian law. Customers were not informed that their sensitive data was being collected, and this practice was not disclosed in the company’s privacy policy.
As a result, the OAIC ordered Bunnings to stop using facial recognition technology, destroy all collected data, and issue a public apology. These actions are intended to address the privacy breach and ensure compliance with Australian privacy regulations.
Bunnings, however, denies any wrongdoing and has announced plans to appeal the OAIC’s decision. The company insists that it implemented facial recognition technology responsibly and disagrees with the findings of the investigation.
Read the OAIC article for more information.