Bunnings breached privacy laws by using facial recognition on customers, Commissioner finds
The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) opened an investigation into Bunnings in 2022. (ABC News: Lindsay Dunbar )
Bunnings has interfered with the privacy of hundreds of thousands of customers by using facial recognition technology without gaining proper consent, the Privacy Commissioner has ruled.
The retail giant says the technology was used to protect staff and customers from "increasing exposure to violent and organised crime".
The Commissioner has ordered Bunnings not to repeat the behaviour and to destroy all personal information collected. Bunnings will seek a review of the ruling.
Retail giant Bunnings has breached privacy laws by using facial recognition technology on its customers, according to a landmark finding by the Privacy Commissioner.
"Individuals who entered the relevant Bunnings stores at the time would not have been aware that facial recognition technology was in use and especially that their sensitive information was being collected, even if briefly," Australian Privacy Commissioner Carly Kind said.
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