Australian major retailers Bunnings and Kmart have become the subject of an investigation over their use of facial recognition technology in stores.
On Tuesday, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) launched a probe into the companies’ “personal information handling practices.”
The watchdog has also commenced a preliminary inquiry with The Good Guys, although the consumer electronics retail giant announced on June 28 it has paused the use of facial recognition technology.
The move comes after consumer advocate group CHOICE revealed that out of 25 leading Australian retailers, only three national brands, Kmart, Bunnings and The Good Guys—who run hundreds of stores across the country—were capturing the biometric information of their customers….