Sainsbury's to use facial recognition technology in shops

Sainsbury’s has said it plans to introduce facial recognition across its UK shops as it launches the controversial technology in its first stores.

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The UK's second largest supermarket chain has informed staff in two stores that it will start an eightweek trial before potentially rolling out the technology nationwide.

Sainsbury's has said the technology is part of its efforts to identify shoplifters and curb a sharp increase in retail crime in recent years.

However, privacy campaigners described the plans as “chilling”.

Use of facial recognition in shops has been heavily criticised in recent years, with rival Asda facing thousands of complaints after launching its own similar trial earlier this year.

Bosses at Sainsbury's, which has more than 1,400 shops across the country, said the plans are “not about monitoring colleagues” or customers.