Bunnings Found to Breach Customer Privacy With Widespread Use of Facial Recognition Tech

Hundreds of thousands of customers of Bunnings, Australia’s dominant hardware retailer, were scanned without their knowledge.

Bunnings Warehouse is seen in Maribyrnong on August 4, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

A two-year investigation has led Australia’s privacy commissioner to issue a landmark finding against the country’s largest hardware retailer, Bunnings, for using facial recognition technology in 387 stores without informing customers.

“Individuals who entered the relevant Bunnings stores at the time would not have been aware that facial recognition technology was in use and especially that their sensitive information was being collected, even if briefly,” Australian Privacy Commissioner Carly Kind said.