‘It was hundreds and thousands of people, not just high risk individuals’: Privacy commissioner backs Bunnings privacy breach

November 21, 2024 9:38

Australia’s privacy commissioner, Carly Kind, has shared more thoughts on Bunnings’ controversial use of facial recognition technology (FRT), after finding the retailer breached the privacy of everyday Aussies.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the privacy commissioner claimed that Bunnings failed to take reasonable steps to notify individuals that their personal information was being collected and did not include required information in its privacy policy at 63 stores in Victoria and New South Wales between November 2018 and November 2021.

At the IAB Australia Leadership Summit on Wednesday, Kind delved further into the issue, explaining that the technology used was a more intrusive option than others available, and it interfered with the privacy of everyone.

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Lauren McNamara

Lauren McNamara is a freelance journalist. She previously spent three years at Mumbrella, most recently as the associate editor. She left her staff role in August 2025.

Topics

ai Bunnings Bunnings FRT Bunnings Warehouse Carly Kind consent facial recognition facial recognition technology privacy privacy commissioner Privacy reform