Show your support for a new law to rein in facial recognition technology

Update: Following a complaint by CHOICE, Australia’s privacy watchdog has just found that Bunnings breached privacy laws by using facial recognition technology on its customers.

3 in 4 Australians agree that regulation is needed to prevent the harms caused by facial recognition in retail settings. That’s why we’re calling on the government to pass a new law that would effectively ban the use of facial recognition technology by Australian retailers.

The latest CHOICE investigation has revealed that facial recognition technology is being deployed at major concert venues and sporting events around Australia, often without consumers' knowledge or consent. 

When CHOICE exposed Kmart, Bunnings and the Good Guys last year for using invasive facial recognition technology in stores on unsuspecting customers, thousands of people made their voices heard and spoke out against this invasive technology. 

Thanks to the immense public pressure, all three retailers were forced to pause their use of facial recognition in stores while Australia’s privacy watchdog investigates. Unfortunately, our stadiums investigation has revealed that other businesses are still at it. Now, the government has the opportunity to make this pause permanent and ensure that big businesses keep their hands off our sensitive biometric data for good.

Australia’s current privacy laws were written long before the widespread use of facial recognition was even possible. This crucial reform is long overdue. Together, if we can show overwhelming public support for closing the gaps in our privacy protections, we can get this groundbreaking law over the line. Will you sign the petition to show your support?