Privacy watchdog to investigate Bunnings and Kmart over use of facial recognition technology

Information commissioner will look into the personal information handling practices of the retail giants

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Australia's privacy watchdog has launched an investigation into retail giants Bunnings and Kmart over their use of facial recognition technology in some stores.

Consumer group Choice last month revealed Bunnings and Kmart were using the technology - which captures images of people's faces from video cameras as a unique faceprint that is then stored and can be compared with other faceprints - in what the companies say is a move to protect customers and staff and reduce theft in select stores.

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