Science & Tech · Big Tech & Internet · 6 hrs ago
Woolworths considers facial recognition trial in two Canberra stores
Woolworths is considering a facial recognition trial at two Canberra supermarkets to help protect staff from violence.
The stores being considered are in Woden and Gungahlin.
Woolworths says it chose them because they have many workplace protection orders, legal measures intended to reduce violence at work.
The proposed system would scan every customer's face and check it against a list of known repeat violent or threatening offenders.
Profiles of customers not on the list would be deleted within one second, according to Woolworths.
If someone on the list is detected, staff could be alerted and police may be called.
Woolworths is consulting with staff, and the trial could begin by the end of November if it goes ahead.
Woolworths is considering a facial recognition trial at two supermarkets in Canberra to help protect staff from violence.
The proposed trial would be at its Woden and Gungahlin stores.
The company is consulting with staff and could introduce the technology by the end of November.
Woolworths says all customers would be scanned, but profiles not matched to its watch list would be deleted within one second.
- Who
- Woolworths is considering the trial. Its head of violence prevention, Sarah Faorlin, outlined the proposal.
- What
- The company may trial facial recognition technology to identify repeat violent or threatening offenders.
- When
- Woolworths said it could implement the technology by the end of November 2026.
- Where
- The Woden and Gungahlin supermarkets in Canberra.
- Why
- Woolworths says the trial would help protect staff and customers from repeat violence and aggression.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The ACT introduced workplace protection orders, which are used to prevent and reduce workplace violence.
Woolworths says unacceptable incidents in its stores nationally have increased by 460 per cent.
Woolworths said it was consulting with staff about a possible trial at its Woden and Gungahlin stores.
Woolworths could implement the technology if it proceeds with the trial.
- Proposed locations
- Woden and Gungahlin supermarkets, Canberra
- Potential start
- By the end of November 2026
- Profile deletion
- Within one second if no watch-list match is detected
- Incident increase
- 460 per cent nationally since 2020, according to Woolworths
- Workplace protection orders
- Introduced in the ACT in 2016
What people are saying
The proposed trial of this technology will target known repeat violent, abusive or threatening offenders, including those served by court-ordered WPOs in the ACT.
If there is no detection made, so our genuine customers, their biometric profile will be deleted within one second.
They're going to call the police for somebody's breached the workplace protection order and that then becomes a matter for the police, because it's a criminal offence that has to be enforced by the police.