Two major Australian retailers are being investigated by the privacy watchdog for their use of facial recognition technology in stores.

Kmart and Bunnings will be investigated over their use of the technology which captures images of shoppers’ faces and stores’ unique “face prints”.

Kmart and Bunnings will be investigated over their use of technology that captures images of shoppers’ faces.

The retailers say facial recognition is being used in some stores to protect shoppers and staff, to combat anti-social behaviour and to reduce theft.

But the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner has concerns over the companies’ “personal information handling practices”.

The watchdog on Tuesday announced the investigation after consumer advocate group Choice raised the alarm about the technology being used without customers’ knowledge or consent.

The information collected by the technology could be in breach of Australia’s privacy laws, Choice consumer data advocate Kate Bower said.

“[The Privacy Act] requires that your collection of that information has to be suitable for the business purpose that you’re collecting it for, and that it can’t be disproportionate to the harms involved,” she said in a statement.

“We believe that these retail businesses are disproportionate in their over-collection of this information, which means that they may be in breach of the Privacy Act.”

Bunnings chief operating officer Simon McDowell said the company was aware of the opened investigation and would co-operate with the watchdog.

“As we’ve previously explained, this technology is used solely to help keep teams and customers safe and prevent unlawful activity in our stores and we have strict controls around its use,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.

AAP

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