Do you use the self-service checkout in your local retailer? If so, you will have noticed plenty of CCTV cameras — either mounted on the ceiling, or suspended on a long stick.
The camera is pointed at the checkout and monitors what has been scanned and whether you have completely scanned what you intend to buy.
Amazon ‘bricks and mortar’ shops have been using “just walk out technology” for several years.
There are no tills, the shop receives no cash, customers scan their card and log into their Amazon account on entry and then they are automatically charged on leaving.
Computer vision, sensor fusion, deep machine learning models, and generative AI are all tools that Amazon uses. It’s a ground-breaking way to shop but certainly not one for the technophobes.
Several retailers intend to employ a (video assistant referee) VAR-style technology to identify whether an item has been scanned and paid for or not.
This would also employ a form of machine learning and generative AI tools. While these types of technology have already been implemented effectively in Britain, some of the newer anti-shoplifting mechanisms have yet to make an appearance here.
UK-based retailers have introduced sliding plastic panels or shelf shields. These panels make it more difficult for shoplifters to remove multiple items in one swoop and retain shoppers in stores for longer as the time taken to remove items from the shelves increases.
You could call this a win/win for the retailer, as the more time consumers spend in their stores presents ample chances to convert more sales.
The British Retail Consortium reports that violence and abuse towards retail/shop workers rose by 50% in 2024. Shoplifting offences in England and Wales rose by 20% last year according to the UK statistics office. But they believe this is an underestimation as not all offences are reported.
These statistics are not tracked in the same way in Ireland, but theft from shops in 2024 accounted for 44% of all theft-related offences according to the CSO.
The cost-of-living crisis continues to put pressure on us all. The rise in shoplifting of necessities such as nappies and baby milk has reportedly risen in line with the number of hard-pressed families.
Retailers hope that increased surveillance at the tills will reduce shoplifting and protect their staff. This doesn’t solve the underlying poverty, however, and the Government will also have to examine solutions such as food banks and other cost-of-living interventions to combat the wider poverty issue as families begin to cut back on their spending.
Remember that retailers are businesses who see installing CCTV at checkouts, along with other aforementioned measures, as a way for them to protect their profit margins.
Presumably, the cost of installing surveillance technology at checkouts and elsewhere is cheaper than the alternative. However, all this new technology can come at the cost of your personal data.
I contacted the Data Protection Commissioner for their advice, and they say that recognisable images captured by CCTV systems are personal data and therefore subject to the provisions of both the GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.
The DPC has plenty of information and guidance on their website for anybody considering the use of CCTV on their premises.
Interestingly, the DPC says that under the principle of accountability, a data controller must ensure that any new technology is risk assessed, along with a personal data impact assessment, amongst other actions.
Asda in Manchester recently trialled facial recognition technology that involved customers’ faces being picked up on CCTV, scanned, and compared against individuals on an internal watchlist.
It would be interesting to see if similar systems pass the Irish DPC’s robust legislation and oversight. I suspect this personal identification is something we in Ireland will not have to worry about for some time to come, especially considering the DPC’s stance.
Self-service checkouts have their fans, and some consumers prefer this shopping experience over standing in line at the conveyor belt. For those who opt go to virtually staff-free, it can be a quicker way to get the shopping done, particularly if using a handheld scanner.
There’s a lot to be said for the classic shopping experience however, and a slower journey through the retail space. If a consumer enters the supermarket with the mindset that it’s a chance to chat, and meet up with friends, and have valuable human interactions at the checkout, they won’t be disappointed.
Retailers can offer a valuable space for communities. From a collection stand for local charities and organisations, to stocking locally produced items; self-service checkouts may undermine this holistic attitude to supermarket shopping.
CCTV in supermarkets may be a necessary evil, and we are depending on the retailers to use this information proportionally.
Still, I wonder if we would be better removing the self-service tills and returning to the conveyor belt and cash register?
Our extended communities would be all the better for more face-to-face contact and we may have less digital surveillance, too. It’s certainly something to think about.
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It’s ‘Summer sale’ season again and we are about to be bombarded with big percentage deductions on red stickers.
It’s a great time to remind you not only to read the label, but also to check if you are really getting value for money on discounted items. The CCPC says that businesses must display the ‘prior price’, and you can find more information on this on their website.#
