A Bay Area grocery chain is bringing in facial recognition technology to try to snare shoplifters \u2014 but regular customers are furious.<\/p>\n
The move is set to be deployed at some Grocery Outlet stores, concerning shoppers their privacy could be infringed upon.<\/p>\n
The Emeryville-based chain is using software called SAFR, and shoppers will be notified that facial recognition is being used to catch people suspected of shoplifting. One store in Pleasant Hill, in Contra Costa County, will use the technology.<\/p>\n
An attorney who is an expert in digital privacy said the technology presumes guilt by scanning every person who enters the store. CBS<\/p>\n
California has one of the worst records in the US on shoplifting, as it has skyrocketed 50% since the pandemic.<\/p>\n
Experienced store manager June Guerrero says she understands why the brand is using facial recognition.<\/p>\n
\u201cI worked for years as a manager of a store and the theft was just unbelievable,\u201d Guerrero told CBS News<\/a>. \u201cI agree with it.\u201d<\/p>\n Experienced store manager June Guerrero says she understands why the brand is using facial recognition. CBS<\/p>\n Shoppers think privacy and accuracy are their top concerns.<\/p>\n \u201cI do understand, but invading my privacy with my picture.\u00a0I don\u2019t agree on that,\u201d Barbara Jackson told CBS News. \u201cYou gotta find a better way.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt could lead to a lot of problems, I think for companies and businesses and people,\u201d Steve Burdette added.<\/p>\n \u201cI do understand, but invading my privacy with my picture.\u00a0I don\u2019t agree on that,\u201d Barbara Jackson told CBS News. \u201cYou gotta find a better way.\u201d CBS<\/p>\n An attorney who is an expert in digital privacy said the technology presumes guilt by scanning every person who enters the store.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a dragnet that scans everyone. Even if you\u2019ve done nothing wrong, your face is being scanned,\u201d Mario Trujillo, who works with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, said. \u201cWhat you\u2019re essentially doing is violating the privacy rights of every customer who walks into your store.\u201d<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tSign up for the California Morning Report newsletter\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCalifornia’s top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n San Jose State engineering professor Dr. Ahmed Banafa said the technology could open the grocery store chain up to lawsuits over profiling if there aren\u2019t safeguards in place.<\/p>\n \u201cThe human has to be in the loop. It\u2019s not just the system that says it\u2019s a match. The human will make the final decision,\u201d he said. \u00a0\u201cAI is famous for going after, you know, certain races.\u201d<\/p>\n San Jose State engineering professor Dr. Ahmed Banafa said the technology could open the grocery store chain up to lawsuits over profiling if there aren\u2019t safeguards in place. CBS<\/p>\n SAFR President Charisse Jacques said is not connected to law enforcement and does not build a public database of people entering stores. Jacques insists the tech only stores info on shoplifting suspects and is only kept for a limited time.<\/p>\n SAFR has also never shared information with the government or ICE and has never been asked to do so.<\/p>\n Grocery stores have also been under fire for altering digital price tags.<\/p>\n Walmart found another way to nickel-and-dime shoppers before they even get to the checkout, as\u00a0back in 2024<\/a>, the retail giant revealed it would add digital shelf labels \u2014 or DSLs \u2014 to all US stores.<\/p>\n Some shoppers fear\u00a0dynamic pricing<\/a>\u00a0would peek its sneaky head out.<\/p>\n