There’s a view the benefits of facial recognition tech in supermarkets outweighs potential risks. 

Data analyst firm Scarlatti has found a trial of the new technology at 25 Foodstuffs North Island supermarkets reduced harm by 16%. 

Security were alerted to offenders early, and could intervene to prevent harm from escalating. 

Scarlatti Director and Trial Evaluator Adam Barker told Mike Hosking there was a balance to be struck around privacy impacts. 

He says they found the 16% reduction in harm was more than enough to justify the use of the tech in the views of the public. 

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