Imagine being mistaken for a criminal while doing your weekly shop! That’s what happened to Warren Rajah, 42, at his local Sainsbury’s in Elephant and Castle, South London. Facial recognition tech flagged him as an offender, leading to an embarrassing eviction from the store. 😳
“I felt like a criminal,” Warren shared, still shocked by the ordeal. Asking staff for an explanation, he was simply pointed towards a sign about the use of facial recognition. But it was all a big mistake! Another person, who actually was in the store, was the real target.
Sainsbury’s insists their Facewatch tech, boasting a 99.98% accuracy rate, was not at fault. Instead, they call it a “human error.” After confirming he wasn’t in their database, Sainsbury’s apologised and even gave Warren a £75 shopping voucher.
Despite this, Warren’s trust is shaken. He said, “Being excluded from a store without understanding why feels fascistic.” He’s eager to raise awareness about stores using facial recognition tech.
Privacy advocates like Big Brother Watch argue that mistakes like these are frighteningly common, making people hand over even more personal data to prove their innocence. Are we all just one tech error away from being wrongfully accused or banned from shops? 🛍️😟
The Information Commissioner’s Office reminds retailers to use such tech responsibly, ensuring accuracy to prevent mishaps that could deeply affect individuals.
What do you think about facial recognition in shops? Is it a step too far, or a necessary tool to curb shoplifting? 🤔🔍 #FacialRecognition #PrivacyMatters #SainsburysMistake