Bunnings given green light to use facial recognition tech on customers to combat crime

Hardware retailer Bunnings has been approved to use facial recognition technology on its customers in Australia. The decision reverses a 2024 ruling by the Australian privacy commissioner that initially found the practice breached customer privacy. The administrative review tribunal made the new ruling this week after hearing evidence from Bunnings store managers about regular threatening and abusive behavior from some customers. Bunnings argues the technology is necessary to prevent crime within its stores. The facial recognition system scans customers' faces and compares them to a database of individuals suspected of criminal activity.