In this Herlad Now interview Paul Spain shares insights on the recent tentative endorsement from the Privacy Commissioner for Foodstuffs to use facial recognition in their stores, exploring both the immediate impact on crime and the broader implications for privacy and everyday shopping experiences.
Paul shares examples from overseas, such as Amazon stores in the United States, where customers can shop without undergoing traditional checkout processes. While Amazon’s model uses phone scans rather than facial recognition, the principle is similar: technology streamlines the shopping experience. Paul also references a Chicago stadium employing facial recognition for entry and payments, illustrating broader applications.
However, the conversation quickly pivots to concerns about data privacy and the potential misuse of surveillance technology with a lack of trust in the safeguards surrounding personal data. Paul warns against what he calls a “slow creep” of surveillance: if society gradually accepts facial recognition in supermarkets, it might pave the way for ever-increasing intrusion. Paul references dystopian literature such as “1984” to underline his concerns about a surveillance society.
Ryan challenges whether resistance is futile, noting that, even now, consumers are routinely recorded by CCTV in shopping centers and are potentially tracked through digital billboards collecting data like license plates. Paul responds that society does have the power to push back against these trends and calls for increased scrutiny of surveillance practices. He points out Auckland’s city cameras—numbering in the thousands—as an example of pervasive monitoring that goes largely unquestioned. Paul also raises concerns about the origin of surveillance hardware, noting that many city cameras are sourced from a Chinese company linked to state surveillance and the oppression of minority groups, notably the Uyghurs.
The conversation ends with a reflection on the rights that may have already been given away, and a call for society to reconsider and challenge the expansion of surveillance technology in everyday life. Paul Spain urges caution, thoughtful debate, and stronger protections to prevent a future where privacy is completely eroded.
10 June 2025