In most busy public places, CCTV cameras are so common that you're almost certain to spot one, even if you hardly notice them anymore.
But would you feel differently if those cameras weren't just passively capturing footage, but were actively scanning and identifying you?
Bunnings has won a legal battle to use AI facial recognition in its stores to combat retail crime and reduce staff abuse, overturning a 2024 ruling that found it breached privacy laws by scanning customers' faces without their proper consent.
So is facial recognition simply the price we pay for greater safety or convenience? Or should we be taking a harder look at the risks this kind of surveillance poses?
