Monday, December 8, 2025

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Foodstuffs South Island begins facial recognition trial in Christchurch supermarkets

Foodstuffs South Island news

Foodstuffs South Island is launching a three-month trial of facial recognition technology at New World St Martins, Pak’nSave Papanui, and Pak’nSave Moorhouse in Christchurch.

The system identifies individuals previously involved in violent or threatening incidents and alerts trained staff when a match with at least 92.5% accuracy is detected.

Alerts are manually reviewed before any action is taken, which may include observation, police contact, or requesting the person to leave.



Images not matching the watchlist are deleted immediately, and no data from minors or vulnerable individuals is stored, according to the company. Foodstuffs has consulted the Office of the Privacy Commissioner and completed a “Privacy Impact Assessment”, following a similar 2024 trial in 25 North Island stores that met privacy standards.

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11 COMMENTS

  1. What an absolute load of BS that unmatched watchlist images are immediately deleted. If that was actually the case there would be hardly any images to save. But I bet it’s not the case. They are building a database. Time to break out the covid masks me thinks.

  2. Vote with your dollar and boycott these scumbags. I will ensure the weekend shop is with green grocers/butcher and then competitors for anything else.

  3. The facial recognition technology will definately not be applied to anything other than previously violent or aggressive customers.

  4. Good thing
    Anything to prevent the costs of shoplifters being passed onto customers
    Some being recidivist compulsive kleptomaniacs
    The innocent victims pay as always
    These scumbags should not get carte blanche – a free pass to continue thieving
    They need to be trespassed too
    Pity we don’t have a penal colony
    Get rid of these mobile bags of excrement

  5. Well…. a little Birdy told us that they were already doing it. Also someone got lots of Brownie points when they gave them the photo database from the Passports. Needs an investigation.
    A.I facial recognition usage should also be banned.

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