In an interview with Tim Webster on 2SM, operational security expert Gina Field spoke about the rising levels of retail crime and the push by Bunnings to introduce facial recognition technology in stores. Gina supported the use of AI-powered surveillance, arguing it’s necessary to help protect retail staff and customers amid increasing incidents of violence and theft—crimes that have reportedly risen by 43% and are costing Australian retailers around $9 billion each year.
While acknowledging Bunnings’ previous breach of privacy laws, Gina suggested the issue stemmed from a lack of transparency. She said customers should have been clearly informed about the use of facial recognition, with appropriate signage and an explanation of how the data would be used. With the right communication, consent, and clear data management practices—such as encryption and automatic deletion—Gina believes this type of technology can be implemented ethically and effectively.
She explained the difference between standard CCTV and facial recognition systems, noting that facial recognition actively analyses facial features and compares them to databases of known offenders, making it a proactive rather than passive tool.
Gina acknowledged community concerns around data misuse and the high cost of such systems, particularly for small businesses, but pointed out that advanced surveillance is becoming more common across public spaces. She added that if people aren’t doing anything wrong, they have nothing to worry about. Ultimately, Gina believes Australians will grow more accepting of this technology as long as it’s used responsibly and with clear boundaries in place.
