The major supermarket has faced backlash for using live facial recognition cameras.
Big Brother Watch posted on X, formerly known as Twitter: “Asda is trialling live facial recognition cameras in Manchester.
“The tech is being integrated into the stores’ existing CCTV networks to scan shoppers’ faces like a barcode We must stop this before it becomes permanent – tell Asda to #StopFacialRecognition | #StopAsdaSpying”
Asda is trialling live facial recognition cameras in Manchester
The tech is being integrated into the stores’ existing CCTV networks to scan shoppers’ faces like a barcode
We must stop this before it becomes permanent – tell Asda to #StopFacialRecognition | #StopAsdaSpying pic.twitter.com/fYMFI6XQVh
— Big Brother Watch (@BigBrotherWatch) April 3, 2025
The trial scheme went live on March 31, 2025, in Asda’s Ashton, Chadderton, Harpurhey, Eastlands, and Trafford Park stores.
After two months, it will be reviewed, and if successful, it could be expanded to more UK Asda stores.
On the trial, Asda’s non-food and retail chief commercial officer Liz Evans said: “The rise in shoplifting and threats and violence against shopworkers in recent years is unacceptable and as a responsible retailer we have to look at all options to reduce the number of offences committed in our stores and protect our colleagues.
“We consistently look for new ways to improve the security in our stores and this trial will help us understand if facial recognition technology can reduce the number of incidents and provide greater protection to everybody in our stores.”
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Customers have since slammed the move online.
One said: “Anyone that’s seen the BBC Drama ” Capture ” will know how dangerous this is . Hope people can show with their Withdrawal of Custom that it’s a bad step.”
Another commented: “boycott.. I never go there anywhere but definitely not now.”
Someone else posted: “i am glad i don’t shop there …”
