Draconian change coming to major California grocery store chain and shoppers are furious

A Bay Area grocery chain is bringing in facial recognition technology to try to snare shoplifters — but regular customers are furious.The move is set to be deployed at some Grocery Outlet stores, concerning shoppers their privacy could be infringed upon.The Emeryville-based chain is using software called SAFR, and shoppers will be notified that facial recognition is being used to catch people suspected of shoplifting.One store in Pleasant Hill, in Contra Costa County, will use the technology.California has one of the worst records in the US on shoplifting, as it has skyrocketed 50% since the pandemic.Experienced store manager June Guerrero says she understands why the brand is using facial recognition.“I worked for years as a manager of a store and the theft was just unbelievable,” Guerrero told CBS News.

“I agree with it.”Shoppers think privacy and accuracy are their top concerns.“I do understand, but invading my privacy with my picture. I don’t agree on that,” Barbara Jackson told CBS News.“You gotta find a better way.”“It could lead to a lot of problems, I think for companies and businesses and people,” Steve Burdette added.An attorney who is an expert in digital privacy said the technology presumes guilt by scanning every person who enters the store.“This is a dragnet that scans everyone.

Even if you’ve done nothing wrong, your face is being scanned,” Mario Trujillo, who works with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, said.“What you’re essentially doing is violating the privacy rights of every customer who walks into your store.” California's top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.

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Never miss a story San Jose State engineering professor Dr.Ahmed Banafa said the technology could open the grocery store chain up to lawsuits over profiling if the...