Some Grocery Outlet stores in the Bay Area are beginning to use facial recognition technology in an effort to reduce shoplifting, a move that has sparked privacy concerns among shoppers. The Emeryville-based grocery chain is deploying facial recognition software called SAFR at select locations, including the Concord and Pleasant Hill stores. Signs posted at participating stores notify customers that face-matching technology is being used to help prevent theft. The technology comes as California continues to struggle with high levels of retail theft, which have increased significantly since the pandemic.
Supporters say retailers need new tools to combat theft, while critics argue the system scans every customer entering the store, raising concerns about privacy, potential misidentification, and bias. Privacy advocates say the technology treats every shopper as a potential suspect. Experts have also warned that facial recognition systems require human oversight to avoid mistakes and possible profiling. SAFR says its system is not connected to law enforcement, does not create a public database of shoppers, and only stores information on people suspected of shoplifting for a limited period. The company also says it has never shared customer data with the government or Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The rollout comes as retailers continue to explore new technologies aimed at reducing theft, even as some customers question whether the added security is worth the potential impact on personal privacy.
“Privacy concerns” aka the right to steal
One of the most effective approaches in reducing retail crime would be to vote
out the soft on crime Democrats.
I can tell you who is going to shoplift when I see them walk in the door.
I especially like the sly ones who try to sneak an item when they check out & put things like a package of bacon folded up in the child basket or straight up in the back of the cart so it’s harder to see.
Way back in the rear of the bottom rack of the basket is another good try & hope the clerk will miss it… the stores used to have signs in their break rooms “Have you seen BoB?” (bottom of basket”) to remind them to check there. I asked that question to a nice clerk once when I saw her miss a 12 pack of Corona in a guy’s cart…. she got it.
What’s the point if DAs won’t prosecute ? ? ? ?
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Governance by liberal democrats in California has caused price increases in
home utilities, ill conceived and even worse execution of “green fantasies”
cause difficulties with costs of maintaining a family.
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Even worse was the 12 years of rampant “illegal invasion” and the continuing
giveaway of tax payer dollars all in an concerted effort to greatly skew count
numbers of the 2030 CENSUS.
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DAWG, has the solution to ALL problems facing California.
I suggest taking it one step further, VOTE OUT democrats, at all levels of
CA government.
Is the “Bias” that critics are concerned with… Is that it helps identify… Criminals…always an excuse in Calif Politics..
Is Grocery Outlet going to try to tie a name to the image or just collect the image? Is their computer system for facial recognition going to be tied to the name on a check, ATM card, credit card, or EBT card used by a customer at the register?
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There’s been several arrests made across the country where the facial recognition software, the business owner or employee, and the police were all wrong and innocent people have ended up in jail.
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California law allows customers to contact businesses that they do business with and the business is required to give all information collected to the customer, and the customer can have the business delete some or all of the information that the business has collected on the customer.
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It’s getting to the point where the public needs to mask-up whenever leaving their homes.
AWESOME!
Can the store post the pictures of the thieves on their windows, kinda like the old Post Office wanted photos? We know our useless DA will not prosecute them, cause weak on crime and cater to the criminal and all that, but if we post the pictures of these criminals then everyone knows who not to trust!
No words need to be on the pictures .. just a clean head shot and an image of the actual theft if possible. No assumption of legal status needs to be made and without a name, ICE cannot help. No police need to be involved, so no additional resources required by them and to be honest, again our local DA’s are useless and will not prosecute anyways.
It would be interesting to see the demographics of the thieves … a picture is worth a 1000 words …
It would be fun to watch the software identify someone who has already been filmed taking stuff, and then set off a red light or siren as they walk back into the store … like a friendly welcome back thief annoucnement.
I remember when businesses used to post pictures of people who tried to pass bad checks this was a great idea back then and mopst definitely is a great idea again!
If someone does not like the idea, they have the right to not shop at the store… We need to stop these thieves from increasing our prices..
Bring it on… If someone does not like the idea, then don’t shop there.